It is finally Draft Day! We have made it through the many months of talk, speculation and evaluation of the 2016 NFL Draft prospects. The Browns are going to be very active this weekend, looking to add a lot of talent to help the thin roster that lost quite a few players in free agency. Over the last many weeks, WFNY has been showcasing the 2016 NFL Draft with coverage of the players and situations involved in the annual selection meeting.
To get you ready for the first round of the draft and subsequent rounds, I have predicted all 31 picks of the first round, along with every Browns pick in all seven rounds. So, let’s get to mocking! (Ed. Note: Mobile users will want to turn their phones to landscape mode.)
WFNY Joe Gilbert’s 2016 NFL Draft Coverage:
Safeties | Cornerbacks | Inside Linebackers | Edge Rushers | Interior Defensive Linemen | Offensive Tackles | Interior Offensive Linemen | Tight Ends | Wide Receivers | Running Backs | Quarterbacks | Big Board | Mock Draft
Round 1
1. Los Angeles Rams: QB Jared Goff, California
The Los Angeles Rams trade up and get the No. 1 quarterback in the draft. Goff has the talent and intelligence to develop into a franchise level quarterback for the Rams.
2. Philadelphia Eagles: QB Carson Wentz, North Dakota State
The Philadelphia Eagles mortgaged a lot of draft picks in order to get their quarterback. Wentz has a lot of upside and physical tools, but needs time to develop and refine his game.
3. San Diego Chargers: DL DeForest Buckner, Oregon
The San Diego Chargers look to bolster their defensive line after struggling to stop the run last season. Buckner is a physical freak who can immediately become a stout run stopper in the NFL.
4. Dallas Cowboys: S Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
The Dallas Cowboys look to go with the player many believe could be the best overall player in the draft. Ramsey could play either safety or corner for Dallas and be a star in their secondary.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: ILB Myles Jack, UCLA
The Jacksonville Jaguars take a bit of chance, selecting a player with injury questions, but unquestioned talent. Jack is one of the best athletes in the entire draft, making plays all over the field.
6. Baltimore Ravens: OT Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss
The Baltimore Ravens choose the best player available, taking my No. 1 ranked player. Tunsil is the cleanest prospect in the draft in my opinion, showing not a lot of vulnerabilities in his game.
7. San Francisco 49ers: EDGE Joey Bosa, Ohio State
The San Francisco 49ers need help at getting to the quarterback and stopping the run. Bosa is able to do both of these, making him one of the most complete players in the entire draft.
8. Miami Dolphins (from Cleveland): RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
The Miami Dolphins decide to trade up to nab the best offensive playmaker in the draft. Elliott can help an offense with his running, catching and even his blocking.
Trade Specifics: Browns Receive: No. 13 and No. 42 Dolphins Receive: No. 8 and No. 141
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need a starting cornerback alongside Brent Grimes. Hargreaves has great technique and ball skills to be a tough corner to throw against in the NFL.
10. New York Giants: EDGE Leonard Floyd, Georgia
The Giants take a reach in my eyes, but someone who could improve their pass rush defense. Floyd has the athleticism and length that teams dream about in their outside pass rushers.
11. Chicago Bears: OT Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
The Chicago Bears need an offensive tackle opposite of newly acquired Bobbie Massie. Stanley has the athleticism and feet to immediately come in and play left tackle.
12. New Orleans Saints: DL Sheldon Rankins, Louisville
The New Orleans Saints had a horrific defense that led the league in points allowed. Rankins gives them a penetrating interior defensive lineman, who can help improve their defensive line.
13. Cleveland Browns (from Miami): WR Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
The Browns trade down and acquire a second rounder, while still getting a talented playmaker to improve the thin receivers unit. Treadwell has great ball skills and physical running ability to be a touchdown maker for an offense that needs it.
14. Oakland Raiders: OT Taylor Decker, Ohio State
The Oakland Raiders need help at the offensive tackle position. Decker is a powerful tackle who possesses solid athleticism to come in immediately at right tackle.
15. Tennessee Titans: OT Jack Conklin, Michigan State
The Tennessee Titans need to protect Marcus Mariota after giving up the most sacks in the league. Jack Conklin is a bruising, powerful offensive tackle, who can come in and start at right tackle.
16. Detroit Lions: C Ryan Kelly, Alabama
The Detroit Lions need to improve their offensive line, giving up the 10th most sacks last season. Kelly is the best center in the draft and can immediately start and be a leader on the line.
17. Atlanta Falcons: ILB Darron Lee, Ohio State
The Atlanta Falcons could use more athleticism in their linebacker corp. Lee gives them that, along with playmaking skills and the ability to play in coverage.
18. Indianapolis Colts: OT Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M
The Indianapolis Colts need to protect their franchise quarterback, Andrew Luck. Ifedi has the size and strength to be a starting tackle, most likely on the right side.
19. Buffalo Bills: EDGE Shaq Lawson, Clemson
The Buffalo Bills need an edge rusher to go opposite Jerry Hughes. Lawson is a powerful edge rusher who can set an edge and control blockers with his strong arms.
20. New York Jets: QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis
The New York Jets decide to look to the future and find their future starting quarterback. Lynch has the size, athleticism and arm talent to develop into a starting quarterback in the NFL.
21. Washington Redskins: DL A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama
The Washington Redskins need to bolster their defensive line. A’Shawn Robison can immediately come in and help stop the run, playing stout defense at the point of attack.
22. Houston Texans: WR Corey Coleman, Baylor
The Houston Texans need a compliment to star receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Coleman adds explosion and speed to a team, giving an offense a playmaker on the outside.
23. Minnesota Vikings: WR Josh Doctson, TCU
The Minnesota Vikings need to surround quarterback Teddy Bridgewater with more talent. Doctson has the best ball skills in the draft, giving the quarterback a huge catch radius to throw to.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Will Fuller, Notre Dame
The Cincinnati Bengals lost two receivers this offseason, so they need help at the position alongside A.J. Green. Fuller is a homerun threat with explosive speed to run past defenses.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Eli Apple, Ohio State
The Pittsburgh Steelers struggled defensively against the pass, so the team is in need of secondary help. Apple has good length and fluid athleticism to be a starting corner in the NFL.
26. Seattle Seahawks: DL Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
The Seattle Seahawks need help at the interior of the defensive line. Nkemdiche has the talent to be a top ten pick, but his off field transgressions and character will cause him to slip a little.
27. Green Bay Packers: ILB Reggie Ragland, Alabama
The Green Bay Packers have a hole in the middle of the defense. Ragland is a big, tough linebacker who can be the leader of the defense and be a physical presence.
28. Kansas City Chiefs: EDGE Kevin Dodd, Clemson
The Kansas City Chiefs could be without Justin Houston for the entire upcoming season, meaning they will need help rushing the passer. Dodd can do just that with his quickness and strong hands.
29. Arizona Cardinals: EDGE Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky
The Arizona Cardinals are not great at getting to the quarterback, lacking a true great edge rusher. Spence could be the most explosive edge rusher in the draft, but he has some character questions.
30. Carolina Panthers: CB Mackensie Alexander, Clemson
The Carolina Panthers need to replace their former No. 1 corner, Josh Norman. Alexander has the athleticism and physicality to be a starting corner in the NFL.
31. Denver Broncos: QB Connor Cook, Michigan State
The Denver Broncos have a big hole at the quarterback position. Cook was a productive player in college, who many scouts believe has the arm talent to succeed as a starting quarterback.
Round 2
32. Cleveland Browns: DL Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech
The Browns lack depth on their defensive line, so adding to this position will be important. Butler possesses power and impressive quickness for a player weighing 323-pounds.
42. Cleveland Browns: OT Shon Coleman, Auburn
The Browns lost right tackle Mitchell Schwartz in free agency, making a hole on the line. Coleman is a powerful and tough tackle who would fit well as a right tackle.
Round 3
65. Cleveland Browns: RB Devontae Booker, Utah
The Browns could use a better compliment to Duke Johnson. Booker is my No. 2 running back in the entire draft because of his power, quickness and impressive balance.
77. Cleveland Browns: ILB Joshua Perry, Ohio State
The Browns released inside linebacker Karlos Dansby, leaving a void at the position. Perry is a strong player at the point of attack with good size to handle himself in traffic.
Round 4
99. Cleveland Browns: EDGE Yannick Ngakoue, Maryland
The Browns need more pass rushers. Ngakoue is an explosive athlete who has ability to reach the corner and bend to quickly get to the quarterback.
100. Cleveland Browns: QB Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
The Browns need a quarterback of the future. Prescott is my No. 4 quarterback, showing a good combination of athleticism, accuracy, arm strength and mental makeup.
138. Cleveland Browns: K Roberto Aguayo, Florida State
The Browns need a reliable kicker with a strong leg. Aguayo is just that, coming into the draft as one of the best kickers in last few years.
Round 5
172. Cleveland Browns: CB Jonathan Jones, Auburn
The Browns are solid in the secondary, but injuries last season showed how important depth is, especially at corner. Jones has experience in on and off coverage, showing good speed.
173. Cleveland Browns: RB/WR Keenan Reynolds, Navy
The Browns need playmakers on offense. Reynolds is one of my favorite players in the entire draft. He has speed, toughness and versatility to be a weapon on offense.
Round 6
176. Cleveland Browns: S Deon Bush, Miami
With the loss of Tashaun Gipson and Donte Whitner, the Browns need more talent at safety. Bush is an excellent athlete with good length and ball skills.
Round 7
223. Cleveland Browns: WR Roger Lewis, Bowling Green
The Browns could always look to add depth in their wide receivers unit. Lewis has good quickness along with reliable hands.
WFNY’s 2016
NFL Draft Prep Series
• Browns QB Strategy
• Titans-Rams trade fallout for Browns
• Dangers of drafting second QB
• The top non-QB draft targets for the Browns
• What if the Browns trade down from pick No. 2?
• Trying to figure out the trade down to pick No. 8
• Did the Browns pass on a franchise QB by trading out of No. 2 pick?