Tag Archives: Ezra Cleveland

Ezra Cleveland an option for Browns

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The Cleveland Browns reportedly have interest in trading back in the upcoming NFL Draft and selecting Boise State tackle Ezra Cleveland.

This is something that has been floating around some time, but now has some widespread attention. The Cleveland Browns could potentially trade down in the draft and select tackle Ezra Cleveland. NFL.com’s Ian Rapport reported this Thursday.

Dane Brugler provided some insight into this possibility.

Ezra Cleveland has gotten mixed reviews in regards to how he ranks among the other tackle prospects. A lot of scouts have him a tier or two below the top tackles in the draft.

I am not a huge fan of trading back unless the players they are targeting at 10 are gone. If three or four tackles go before them and Isaiah Simmons is also gone trading back seems fine. If one or more tackles remain and/or Simmons is available they should make their pick right then and there.

On the surface trading back in order to acquire more picks makes sense. The Cleveland Browns have a ton of holes and making more draft picks seems like a good idea. The problem is that more picks is not always necessarily better, especially when they are not towards the top of the draft. In order to improve a team though the draft process a team needs to do one of two things.

  1. Have a proven track record of success when making picks later in the draft allowing the trade back philosophy to work
  2. Make selections at the top of the draft who project to be blue chip players

Currently the Browns do not have a track record that shows success in that area. This particular group does not have any track record positive or negative that they can 100% lay claim to. The only real person involved here that has any claim to the draft success or failure of a team is Ryan Grigson and he was a complete disaster. Although Grigson’s input seems to be of value for some reason.

The only way the input of Ryan Grigson should be of any value is that they do the complete opposite of what he suggests. Give him the George Costanza treatment and keep on moving along.

The best thing the Cleveland Browns can do on draft day is keep it simple and straight forward instead of trying to get too cute. Take the best player available unless the draft goes completely sideways.

Isaiah Simmons to Browns at 10 in CBS mock draft

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The Cleveland Browns desperately need a linebacker and due to a series of events end up with Isaiah Simmons at 10th overall.

This is quite a bit different from the trade up scenario from USA Today’s Nate Davis. Kevin Hanson of CBS Sports has the Cleveland Browns staying at 10 and ending up with Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons.

Three offensive tackles go in the Top 10 leading to Cleveland looking at other options. That option being Isaiah Simmons and bypassing Mekhi Becton who goes just one pick later. Jedrick Wills Jr., Tristan Wirfs, and Andrew Thomas all go before Cleveland has a chance to pick. If the draft actually works out like this taking Simmons is hardly a consolation prize. The Browns have a gaping hole at linebacker and ending up with Simmons could give them the playmaker they desperately need.

Other selections in this mock

For those who worry about the Browns not addressing the left tackle position, those worries are alleviated with their next pick. The Browns take Ezra Cleveland 41st overall to give Baker Mayfield the protection he needs. Will Cleveland be available at 41? Depends on who you ask. Some feel that the lineman will go quick at the top of the 1st round leading to some others hanging around. Others feel that they will all be taken very quickly. In this scenario Cleveland is available at 41 for the Browns.

Another area of need is safety, luckily the Browns address that area as well. With the 74th pick Cleveland selects Ashtyn Davis. Davis should be able to step in and help make something out of the hodgepodge collection of players at the safety position. Davis might not start right away, but with the inevitable departures of Karl Joseph and Andrew Sendejo after the year they need a longterm solution.

Their final pick in this mock is Davon Hamilton at 97th overall. This was the pick Cleveland got from Houston in the Duke Johnson trade. Adding an interior defensive lineman into the mix is a smart way to go considering their lack of depth in that particular area. The addition of Davon Hamilton could help make the impending decision about Sheldon Richardson just a bit easier.

Chad Reuter has Browns trading down in mock

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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.