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[NEW LIVE BLOG FOR THE BEGINNING OF ROUND 2 IS HERE]
It’s Friday and later tonight, rounds 2-3 in the 2018 NFL Draft will take place for the Cleveland Browns and the rest of the teams in the NFL. Because there are two rounds, it starts a little earlier today -- 7:00 PM ET. Teams will have 7 minutes to pick in round two, and only 5 minutes to pick in round three (compensatory picks will last 4 minutes).
We will have all of your Browns-related coverage on the draft here at Dawgs By Nature throughout the weekend. There will be individual posts about each draft pick that Cleveland makes, or any other relevant news. This thread will act as a “live blog” of sorts, with short one-liners about the latest small rumors, picks, or trades involving Cleveland or other NFL teams. You should also use the comments section as your NFL Draft open thread! (Newest updates will be at the top of the live blog below)
Browns NFL Draft Live Blog
NOTE: We have a NEW live blog for the start of the 2nd round here.
6:00 PM: Hall of Fame Browns RB Jim Brown will be announcing the Browns’ second round picks tonight (or at least one of them). Should Cleveland trade into the third round, TE Randall Telfer would announce the pick.
5:39 PM: Are we sure that the mainstream media isn’t just reading DBN (I’m kidding)? Albert Breer of The MMQB echoed what I suggested earlier about the Browns going after RB Nick Chubb and OT Connor Williams.
.@AlbertBreer on @BullandFox re: #Browns picks at 33/35: "I think one of them is going to be a running back. I don't think it's going to be Derrius Guice. I think it's going to be Nick Chubb", says keep eye on LT Connor Williams, Austin Corbett
— Keith Britton (@KeithBritton86) April 27, 2018
5:15 PM: We also have Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports talking up Cleveland’s interest in RB Nick Chubb. My question would be whether the selection of a high running back hurts the negotiations at all for RB Duke Johnson, either from his end or the Browns’ end.
If the Browns keep both their top picks tonight, hearing Nick Chubb is someone they are high on ...
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 27, 2018
4:35 PM: According to Benjamin Allbright, the Browns are “out on RB Derrius Guice, but in on RB Nick Chubb.” He also thinks they could look for an offensive lineman early on. Due to the injury concerns to DE Harold Landry, if I go off the next two players on my personal big board, the Browns should take OT Connor Williams and RB Nick Chubb if they stay put at No. 33 and No. 35.
Browns appear to be out on Guice, in on Chubb.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) April 27, 2018
Could look OL as well, early tonight.
4:15 PM: We’ve been listening to the press conference in Berea for the team’s Day 1 picks, QB Baker Mayfield and CB Denzel Ward.
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3:08 PM: One of the biggest prospects to have fallen is DT Maurice Hurst, due to concerns about his health. Pro Football Focus still wonders who will take the risk on him, as he is their No. 3 overall-rated prospect (not just today, but for the entire draft).
Maurice Hurst is sliding in the draft so far. Where will the number three prospect on our board ultimately wind up? pic.twitter.com/9Ui0c18gi2
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) April 27, 2018
But at least one person believes that he won’t even be drafted due to his hear condition:
'I don't believe he'll be drafted. I could be wrong about this....' - Broaddus on Maurice Hurst. Says if his heart condition is 'corrected' then his football career is over.
— Jeff Cavanaugh (@JC1053) April 27, 2018
3:00 PM: Going off our draft tracker of Browns’ interests, both of the team’s two first round picks were on there (Mayfield and Ward). Both of them were among the group of 30 players the team had brought to Berea (although Ward was technically part of the local day).
The players remaining who were brought to Berea include: WR Antonio Callaway, WR Da’Mari Scott, OT Desmond Harrison, OT Jordan Mailata, DT Maurice Hurst, DT P.J. Hall, DT Zaycoven Henderson, DT Jullian Taylor, CB Arrion Springs, CB Tremon Smith, CB Simeon Thomas, CB Charvarius Ward, and FS Tarvarius Moore.
2:48 PM: And this is example 1,536 why I don’t listen to WKNR. I’m with 92.3 the Fan all the way.
Cleveland sports-talk radio host @HammerNation19 was so sure the Browns would not pick Baker Mayfield at No. 1 that he promised to eat....um.... pic.twitter.com/NmaVdgEP73
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 27, 2018
2:30 PM: Former Browns LT Joe Thomas was a guest on The Dan Patrick Show (available on DIRECTV CH. 239) this morning, where he said that he would have taken QB Josh Rosen with the No. 1 overall pick if it were up to him. He still thinks taking Mayfield is a great pick, but that his advice for him is to “keep his head down and mouth shut as a rookie, learning all he can for the team.” Thomas also advised Mayfield to “not forget the most important job is to learn the offense, do what’s best for the team, and win.”
2:15 PM: According to Benjamin Allbright, RB Saquon Barkley and QB Josh Allen “were never in the Browns’ plans.” We still haven’t seen anything following up on the PFT report yesterday that the team made a last-second switch from DE Bradley Chubb to CB Denzel Ward.
Browns fans need to recognize that Barkley and Allen were never in their plans
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) April 27, 2018
1:42 PM: In terms of positions, the consistent theme is that people expect the Browns to target (in no particular order) running back, offensive tackle, and defensive line tonight.
1:40 PM: As promised earlier, Dane Brugler’s Day 2 mock draft is out, and here is who he has the Cleveland Browns taking:
No. 33 - RB Derrius Guice: As long as the medicals and character checks out, Guice is a first round value.
No. 35 - OT Connor Williams: With Joe Thomas retired, Cleveland could use reinforcements on the offensive line.
No. 64 - DT Nathan Shepherd: It would be a surprise if the Browns don’t upgrade the defensive line at some point on Friday night.
12:15 PM: One little note for later on: QB Baker Mayfield and CB Denzel Ward are scheduled to have their introductory press conference at 3:45 PM. But they just arrived in the building in Berea, and will also be throwing out the first pitch later tonight at the Indians game.
In the building ✊#BrownsDraft pic.twitter.com/tKrI0VVjmQ
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 27, 2018
12:10 PM: Even though we listed our cumulative big board of the best available players, there are three other resources I recommend looking at to see their recommendations of the top talent still available:
12:00 PM: Let’s take a look at some of the Day 2 mock drafts and who people are pegging to go to the Cleveland Browns, based on the talent that remains available.
Albert Breer, MMQB (link)
No. 33 - OT Connor Williams: Opinions are split on Williams. But he has some potential to play left tackle, which is a big need for the Browns.
No. 35 - RB Nick Chubb: This is a hunch, and it would have surprised me yesterday at noon if you told me four backs would go before Guice.
No. 64 - WR D.J. Chark: If Chark or a player like him were to fall into John Dorsey’s lap, could former first-round pick Corey Coleman come available?
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com (link)
No. 33 - RB Nick Chubb: The Browns didn’t get Saquon Barkley, but they do get a quality RB for the offensive re-boot.
No. 35 - OL Austin Corbett: Versatile offensive lineman with the potential to play tackle, guard or center.
No. 64 - WR Anthony Miller: Former walk-on with a chip on his shoulder ... sounds like a certain QB in Cleveland.
In addition, Dan Kadar of SB Nation mocked the Browns to end up with RB Derrius Guice (No. 33), DT Maurice Hurst (No. 35), and OT Tyrell Crosby (No. 64). The one other mock draft I’m waiting for is to see what Dane Brugler of NFL Draft Scout has in store for us, but that isn’t up yet.
11:36 AM: Here is the Cumulative DBN Big Board, following up on our previous update. The rankings for this one have been reset starting at No. 1, instead of listing their original ranking.
# |
![]() Cumulative DBN Big Board |
1 | DT Maurice Hurst |
2 | CB Josh Jackson |
3 | DE Harold Landry |
4 | RB Derrius Guice |
5 | DT Connor Williams |
6 | CB Isaiah Oliver |
7 | OG Will Hernandez |
8 | S Justin Reid |
9 | RB Ronald Jones |
10 | DE Sam Hubbard |
11 | WR Christian Kirk |
12 | RB Nick Chubb |
13 | WR Courtland Sutton |
14 | DE Arden Key |
15 | TE Mike Gesicki |
16 | CB Carlton Davis |
17 | OT Orlando Brown |
18 | WR D.J. Chark |
19 | OT Jamarco Jones |
20 | DT Harrison Phillips |
21 | S Ronnie Harrison |
22 | WR Dante Pettis |
23 | C James Daniels |
24 | TE Mark Andrews |
25 | WR Anthony Miller |
26 | DT Tim Settle |
27 | WR Deon Cain |
28 | OT Geron Christian |
11:30 AM: It’s time to revisit everybody’s DBN Big Boards to see who is left! This will be a long update, but I think it will be worth it. I am posting eight individual big boards, and then in the next update, I will post the CUMULATIVE big board, which gives the best general consensus among the staff + community. Please keep in mind that these big boards were constructed from before the draft.
DAY 2 - PLAYERS REMAINING ON DBN DRAFT BIG BOARDS
# |
![]() Chris Pokorny |
# |
![]() Matt Wood |
# |
![]() rufio |
15 | Harold Landry | 8 | Harold Landry | 9 | Maurice Hurst |
17 | Connor Williams | 11 | Maurice Hurst | 15 | Justin Reid |
22 | Nick Chubb | 12 | Josh Jackson | 17 | Christian Kirk |
23 | Ronald Jones | 15 | Will Hernandez | 18 | Sam Hubbard |
24 | Derrius Guice | 17 | Derrius Guice | 19 | Derrius Guice |
25 | Maurice Hurst | 20 | Mike Gesicki | 20 | Harold Landry |
26 | Isaiah Oliver | 23 | Christian Kirk | 23 | Josh Jackson |
27 | Justin Reid | 27 | Orlando Brown | 24 | Isaiah Oliver |
32 | Harrison Phillips | 28 | Isaiah Oliver | 25 | Carlton Davis |
34 | D.J. Chark | 29 | Connor Williams | 28 | Ronald Jones |
35 | Will Hernandez | 30 | Jamarco Jones | 34 | Connor Williams |
36 | Isaiah Wynn | 31 | Dante Pettis | 35 | Tim Settle |
38 | Orlando Brown | 32 | Sam Hubbard | 37 | Jamarco Jones |
39 | Sam Hubbard | 34 | Mark Andrews | 38 | D.J. Chark |
35 | Anthony Miller | 40 | Nick Chubb | ||
36 | Deon Cain | ||||
37 | Arden Key | ||||
38 | Harrison Phillips | ||||
39 | Carlton Davis |
DAY 2 - PLAYERS REMAINING ON DBN DRAFT BIG BOARDS
# |
![]() Andrea Hangst |
# |
![]() Mike Hoag |
# |
![]() DBN Big Board |
19 | Will Hernandez | 17 | Josh Jackson | 15 | Maurice Hurst |
22 | Maurice Hurst | 18 | Harold Landry | 16 | Josh Jackson |
23 | Derrius Guice | 19 | Derrius Guice | 20 | Derrius Guice |
24 | Arden Key | 22 | Maurice Hurst | 22 | Connor Williams |
26 | Harold Landry | 26 | Will Hernandez | 23 | Harold Landry |
28 | Josh Jackson | 27 | Ronnie Harrison | 26 | Isaiah Oliver |
32 | Connor Williams | 29 | Isaiah Oliver | 29 | Nick Chubb |
33 | Courtland Sutton | 30 | Ronald Jones | 31 | Courtland Sutton |
36 | Justin Reid | 34 | Connor Williams | 32 | Sam Hubbard |
37 | Geron Christian | 35 | Courtland Sutton | 37 | Christian Kirk |
39 | James Daniels | 38 | James Daniels | 38 | Will Hernandez |
40 | Mike Gesicki | 39 | Arden Key | 39 | D.J. Chark |
40 | Justin Reid | 40 | Ronald Jones |
11:12 AM: The WWE has a unique PPV going on in Saudi Arabia today, which actually starts at 12:00 PM ET so I will have that on in the background the next several hours while covering the draft. Jerry “The King” Lawler was on the pre-show talking about he and The Miz (both are from Cleveland). Lawler said he asked Miz yesterday who the Browns would be taking at No. 1 overall, and Miz said “Baker Mayfield.” Lawler told him “no way!” at the time. And sure enough, it was Mayfield. It was just fun to hear that little commentary as soon as I turned on the show.
11:05 AM: Here is a fun drawing from the NFL’s Instagram page this morning, highlighting the five first-round quarterbacks (including Baker Mayfield) being welcolmed to the NFL.
11:00 AM: Greetings, Browns fans, and welcome to Day 2 of the NFL Draft! In case you missed it, here are a couple of Day 1 recap articles for you to kill some time with:
- Recap: Browns take QB Baker Mayfield, CB Denzel Ward in 1st round
- 2018 NFL Draft Grades: Cleveland Browns’ first-round earns a B
- Re-listen to all of Ezweav’s live reaction of the draft via podcast
The Browns have 3 picks today, all of which are in the second round. No. 33 overall will begin the night, No. 35 overall will be two picks later, and then Cleveland has the final pick of the round at No. 64 overall. In the next half hour or so, we’ll try to get caught up on the players who are still available on our DBN Big Boards for the Browns.