Chad Reuter of NFL.com released his latest mock draft and has the Cleveland Browns trading down from 10 in order to accumulate more draft picks.
16. Javon Kinlaw DT South Carolina
Chad Reuter has the Browns trading down with Atlanta and making this confusing pick. He has reasoning, but it doesn’t seem all that logical considering their current issues.
The Browns are fortunate to find a talent like Kinlaw here to help them mend their porous run defense.
Yes the team needs to address their defensive front, but have they done anything to protect Baker Mayfield? Perhaps he believes Cleveland will go out and make a trade or sign a free agent lineman. Either way there seems to be more areas of need than defensive tackle in Round 1.
41. Brandon Aiyuk WR Arizona State
Wide receiver? Is Reuter still on the trade OBJ train? Even so, taking a receiver this high would be unforgivable. Offensive line, linebacker, safety, these are positions in desperate need of an upgrade.
55. Ezra Cleveland OT Boise State
There is almost zero chance Ezra Cleveland lasts this long. If he does, awesome. The Browns would get an absolute steal here. This seems like wishful thinking though.
74. Kyle Dugger S Lenoir-Rhyne
Finally, a position of need at a realistic draft slot. Kyle Dugger still needs to develop but should be able to compete for the starting safety job on a team that has zero starting caliber players at the position currently.
90. Akeem Davis-Gaither LB Appalachian State
This seems a bit late for a linebacker when the team let Joe Schobert walk and Christian Kirksey has an uncertain future. Linebacker should be addressed much earlier in the draft, perhaps trading up from 10 instead of trading down. That’s if Cleveland doesn’t address offensive line in free agency or through the trade market. Essentially Cleveland needs to find a linebacker earlier than the 90th overall selection.
