Mel Kiper’s 2019 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Browns taking DT Jeffery Simmons

Mel Kiper of ESPN released his first mock draft of the year this past Thursday. We have become so accustom to the Browns having the No. 1 overall pick, or multiple draft picks in the first round, that now these mock drafts for 2019 will take some time getting used to. “What do you mean we only have one pick, and we’re all the way down at No. 17 overall?”

With that 17th overall pick, here is the direction that Kiper sees the Browns going:

No. 17: Cleveland Browns - DT Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State - “The surging Browns hit on their 2018 draft class, led by Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward and Nick Chubb. Can general manager John Dorsey do it again? My comp for Simmons is emerging Chiefs star Chris Jones, whom Dorsey picked in Round 2 when he was in Kansas City. Simmons is supremely athletic and already advanced in his technique as a pass-rusher. However, he will have to answer to NFL teams about his 2016 arrest during the pre-draft process.”

Would you be happy if the Browns were able to land Simmons? In terms of positions, it definitely addresses an area of improvement for Cleveland — while Larry Ogunjobi had a stellar 2018 season, the same can’t be said for Trevon Coley or the rest of the depth at the tackle position.

If you can’t see the rest of Kiper’s mock draft, you can peek at it here: