After an early run on offensive lineman, the Cleveland Browns end up taking linebacker Isaiah Simmons in Tom Fornelli’s mock draft.
It really seems like the Cleveland Browns are destined to end up with one of two players. Mekhi Becton or Isaiah Simmons. Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports has the Browns ending up with Simmons after four offensive lineman are taken before they are on the clock.
Fornelli explains the pick below.
The bad news for Cleveland is that all the top tackles are gone before it gets to pick, and that’s the most pressing concern. The good news is that Isaiah Simmons still finds himself on the board, and he’s a nice consolation prize.
“A nice consolation price” is quite an understatement. If Cleveland’s consolation prize for missing out on the top lineman is Isaiah Simmons they would probably be happy. Sure, Cleveland still needs a tackle, but they also needed a linebacker going into the draft.
Other options to explore
If the draft does unfold in this manner Cleveland will have to explore other options. There are other tackles available after Round 1, but they are not the plug and play starters that went before they could make their pick. Other options they could explore is possibly signing Jason Peters on one-year deal. Peters will not be cheap, but it could help them for one season until they can draft a tackle next season.
There is also the possibility of trading for Trent Williams. If Cleveland misses out on a tackle they should offer a late-round pick to Washington. The Browns can frame the offer as it is either this or nothing. This probably will not work, but it is worth a shot. Offering them something when other offers are non-existent is at least an attempt to improve the roster. The caveat with a deal for Williams is that he wants a new contract and it will not be cheap. Luckily the Browns can afford him right now and if that is the result of drafting Isaiah Simmons that’s not all that bad.
In a perfect world the Browns draft a tackle in Round 1 and have their offensive line set for years to come. Well, that’s not always how things work. Sometimes things unfold in a manner that requires adjustment and flexibility. While this may not be ideal, BPA is the philosophy they need to employ. The team has needs all over the roster and can address them in other ways besides the draft. Being open-minded with their pick when things can go haywire quickly is a must for the Browns and the 10th overall pick.
