Mock Draft 1.0

Here at Orange, Brown, and Down, we see through the hype.  And we don't just follow the pack (Mel Kiper, Jr., Mike Mayock, Todd McShay, etc.).  In formulating our mock draft, we focus on the team's needs, its current roster and free agents, its offensive or defensive scheme, coaching philosophy, and recent draft history in making our picks.  And we don't try to envision trade scenarios - that's impossible.  


This year, there are 8 defensive ends with first round grades and 3 to 4 defensive tackles. Even though up to 12 defensive lineman have first round grades, we don't see 12 teams with enough need at those positions for them all to go in round one. Instead (and lucky for the Browns) some of those first round defensive linemen are going to slip into the top of round 2. This year there are a lot of teams with quarterback needs, but not many premier QB's to meet the demand. Many playoff teams are aging at left tackle, so we envision a run on the top 5 tackles in bottom of round one.


At the beginning of the draft season, defense ruled the top of the player rankings - and in the end, nothing changes.  This is a special defensive class and no overrated QB's are going to change that.  So without further ado.... 

Defensive

If you don't already read Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback column at Sports Illustrated, you should start.  He gets great inside information and offers very reasoned opinions on lots of NFL topics.  For some reason, lots of players, GM's, and league executives are willing to tell him things they won't say to anybody else. 

Back in the summer before coach Mangini's first season, Mr. King visited training camp in Berea and quickly predicted the Browns would go 2-14 that season due to a lack of talent and play makers.  I was shocked, angry, and thought, "this guy doesn't know what he's talking about - he probably doesn't pay attention to the Browns."  But, he was right on the money - until the December heroics of the defense and running game saved the season from Detroit-like dismay. 

Anyway, in today's Tuesday Morning Quarterback edition (an abbreviated version of the Monday column mostly made up of responding to reader emails), Mr. King offers the following thought on the Browns: