A Twitter poll with four options was posted and Browns fans voted for which position the team should take with the 17th pick in the draft. 2,037 votes were cast and some of the results were a bit surprising.
Defensive Tackle
At 36 percent defensive tackle was the number one vote getter. This is hardly a surprise considering how vulnerable the middle of the Browns defensive front was at times last season. Larry Ogunjobi is a great talent at the defensive tackle position, but he can only do so much. Trevon Coley and Carl Davis are not exactly making game changing plays either. Finding another player to start over them would be a wise investment.
Granted the Browns could address this position in free agency, making this pick available for other positions. However if there is another run on other positions leaving a plethora of quality defensive tackle options at 17 it will be hard to pass up.
Linebacker
Unsurprisingly linebacker came in second with 25 percent of the vote. The opinion of Jamie Collins varies from person to person. Christian Kirksey is another player that also falls into the same category as Collins. While Collins may not be on the roster next season, Kirksey figures to be a member of the Cleveland Browns in 2019.
Some expect there to be quality linebacker options available when Cleveland picks in the upcoming draft. This opens up opportunities for the team make improvements to one of the teams weaker defensive units. When Joe Schobert missed three games the defense as a whole struggled. Granted Kirksey was also absent during this time, but this speaks volumes about how badly this unit needs help.
Wide Receiver
Coming in third place is the wide receiver position at 22 percent. This is a bit of old thinking. Some of the comments in regards to this pick are in support of finding a true number one receiver, a big receiver or other basic rhetoric. The fact of the matter is that the team has a quarterback in Baker Mayfield who does not need that. Mayfield produces no matter who is out there catching the football. Sure, drafting a “true number one receiver” is a good thought, but it is not a necessity. The team will be able to succeed in the passing game with receivers taken later in the draft or signed in free agency.
Offensive Tackle
The fact that offensive tackle came in a distant fourth place is a bit surprising. With only 17 percent of the vote, Browns fans thought that the 17th pick should not be used to improve the offensive tackle position. Greg Robinson has showed he is more than capable of holding down the fort for the time being, but he is not a realistic longterm solution. Chris Hubbard performed admirably as the right tackle, but like Robinson is not an elite tackle by any means.
The results which put offensive tackle last could be influenced by the team drafting Austin Corbett last year. Corbett appeared in 11 games, but it was in more of an additional lineman role. Some are unsure of Corbett’s future, but he could in fact be the teams future center. That is if the team moves on from JC Tretter in the near future. Corbett’s uncertain future may have impacted how fans voted and essentially voted for other positions in order to “not waste a pick on another offensive lineman who will not play”.
