On Wednesday, ESPN’s Todd McShay released his first mock draft of the year, and guess who the Cleveland Browns aren’t taking? Myles Garrett or Mitch Trubisky. Who are they willingly passing on them for? Two players who would help bolster the front seven:
1. Cleveland Browns - Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
Let's get this out of the way: No QB in this class is worth the No. 1 pick. The Browns just need more good football players. Allen is a total game-plan wrecker along the defense front (13 tackles for loss, 15 QB hurries). Texas A&M pass-rusher Myles Garrett also figures to be in the mix here.
McShay has the 49ers taking OLB Myles Garrett at No. 2, the Jaguars taking S Jamal Adams at No. 3, the Bears taking S/OLB Jabrill Peppers at No. 4, the Titans taking CB Marshon Lattimore at No. 5, the Jets taking OLB Tim Williams at No. 6, the Panthers taking RB Leonard Fournette at No. 7, and the Saints taking CB Marlon Humphrey at No. 8. It’s a defensive-heavy group from McShay, which continues with the Browns’ selection at No. 9:
9. Cleveland Browns (from Eagles) - Takkarist McKinley, OLB, UCLA
Taking the versatile Jonathan Allen with the No. 1 overall pick would allow the Browns to target McKinley with the second of their first-round picks. The UCLA pass-rusher has elite speed off the edge, which has helped make him one of the biggest draft risers this season (18.0 tackles for loss 10.0 sacks in 11 games). Florida State RB Dalvin Cook could also be in the conversation here for an offense that will be looking for more home run hitters.
McShay sees just one quarterback being selected in the first round, and that is Trubisky at No. 30. That means Cleveland would have their choice of a wide range of quarterbacks at the start of the second round, which isn't a bad position to be in.
How would you like the tandem of Allen and McKinley in Cleveland? Is is “too much” on the outside, given the potential investments the club has in DE Emmanuel Ogbah and OLB Jamie Collins? I’d say it’s not “too much” because Ogbah and Collins only take up one side — what about the defensive end on the other side, or an outside linebacker to complement Collins? Presently, Cleveland pretty much just uses two linebackers total.