College Football

Cleveland Browns mock draft: All defense edition

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 11:01 p.m. ET

Fansided, Thomas Moore/FanSided via Dawg Pound Daily

Nov 12, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Myles Garrett (15) attempts to sack Mississippi Rebels quarterback Shea Patterson (20) during the second quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns need help on defense and they receive it in this mock draft the focuses solely on that side of the ball.

It is hard to underestimate just how poorly the Cleveland Browns defense was during the 2016 season.

While there were a few high points, they were mostly negated by the fact that the defense finished:

Head coach Hue Jackson solved one of the biggest issues by firing defensive coordinator Ray Horton and bringing in Gregg Williams to run the defense.

The front office chipped in by signing linebacker Jamie Collins to a new contract, making him part of a core group that includes fellow linebacker Jamie Collins and defensive linemen Danny Shelton, Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib.

The Browns will continue to build on that group during the 2017 NFL Draft, where they hold the No. 1 overall selection along with five of the first 65 selections in the draft.

Even though they continue to be in desperate need of a quarterback, many expect the Browns to look for a defensive player with their opening pick, including NFL Network’s Mike Mayock, who sees the Browns making Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett the top pick.

“If you’re a Cleveland Browns fan and you’ve got the first overall pick, root for them to take Myles Garrett from Texas A&M. … He’s got length, he’s got get-off, he’s explosive off the edge,” Mayock said during Saturday’s Senior Bowl. “This kid’s got everything you want. Spin move, relentless, can set the edge against the run. At the No. 1 overall pick, if I’m the Cleveland Browns, I don’t see a quarterback there, I don’t want to trade down. I want to get a difference-maker right now.”

If the Browns are really serious about fixing the defense, why stop at just Garrett? The offense is a bit a of mess because of the quarterback problem, but that can be mitigated a bit by stopping the opposing team from easily moving up and down the field and scoring points like it is a video game every Sunday.

So using Fanspeak’s Mock Draft Simulator, let’s take a look at what an all defense draft could look like for the Browns.

Sep 24, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Myles Garrett (15) during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Round 1, Pick 1: Myles Garrett, Texas A&M

The Browns will decide to pass on a quarterback with the No. 1 overall selection because Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett may be a transcendent player for the defense.

The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Garrett is, according to NFL.com, an “elite edge rusher who possesses rare explosiveness and the fluid-movement skills and agility of an NBA shooting guard. Good size, but he’s never likely going to be a hold-your-ground run defender, and might be best suited as an outside linebacker. However, his ability to explode into the backfield through a gap or around the edge gives him disruptive potential on every snap. His pass-rush production and athletic traits point toward an all-pro career.”

Garrett also received high praise from Pro Football Focus:

If he continues to add strength, his work against the run and as a power pass-rusher will only increase his value, but as of now, Garrett has all of the tools in the toolbox to be one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL and he’s shown the ability to use those tools on the field for three years. That’s what separates Garrett from other prospects who may have the athleticism but no production and others who have refined technique and strong college production but may lack the physical ability to improve at the next level. Garrett has both production and athleticism on his side, and that is what will make him so dangerous in the NFL.

The Browns have not had a dominant pass rusher since Clay Matthews (who last played with Cleveland in 1993) and Garrett can fix the problem from the moment he steps on the field.

November 26, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; Rice Owls quarterback Jackson Tyner (14) passes the football against Stanford Cardinal defensive end Solomon Thomas (90) during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Round 1, Pick 12: Solomon Thomas, Stanford

Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas definitely caught the attention of Browns fans who tuned into the Sun Bowl expecting to witness North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky’s rise to the top the draft, but instead were treated to a disruptive force on defense.

The 6-foot-3 and 275-pound Thomas has been compared to Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams, who is very familiar to former Rams and current Cleveland defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

According to his draft profile at NFL.com, Thomas is an:

Explosive defender who combines strength, quickness, and a muscle-car motor to drive him around the field making play after play. Has the hands and feet to be a quick-win specialist and the size to fit as a 4-3 or 3-4 defensive end who can reduce inside for pass-rush downs. He has all the athletic traits to become a high-impact player and possesses more than enough skill and talent to believe he will continue to elevate his game as a pro. Thomas has the potential to become the best defender from this draft class and a future all-pro.

Pair Thomas and Garrett in the first round, mix in Ogbah, Shelton and Nassib, and suddenly the Browns have the makings of a dominant front line on the defensive side of the ball.

Nov 19, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Budda Baker (32) sacks Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Manny Wilkins (5) during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Round 2, Pick 1 (33 overall): Budda Baker, Washington, Safety

The safety position was a sore spot all season long for the Browns, so let’s fix that right up in the second round with a pair of impact players.

Washington safety Budda Baker, a three-year starter for the Huskies, finished his final collegiate season with 65 tackles (8.5 for loss) and two interceptions.

Pro Football Focus has high praise for Baker and, if they are right, he checks off every box on what the Browns are missing from their current safeties:

Budda Baker is a playmaking and versatile defender who has the quickness to play in the slot, the physicality to make run stops and the instincts to make plays on the back end. Baker is also one of the nation’s more effective blitzing safeties and has two sacks, two hits and two hurries and his pass rushing productivity rating of 22.1 ranks No. 3 among Power-5 safeties.

Baker has also been compared for current Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, who was selected one pick after then-Browns front office executives Joe Banner and Michael Lombardi picked defensive back Leon McFadden in the 2013 NFL Draft.

“He’s almost a Honey Badger [Tyrann Mathieu] type in terms of how athletic he is and his ability to diagnose plays,” USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin told Sports Illustrated. “When you watch Washington on film, you see him flash across the screen and it’s like, Oh boy. He’s everywhere.”

A player that makes you sit up and say “oh boy?” Yeah, that will work.

Nov 10, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Utah Utes defensive back Marcus Williams (20) returns an interception against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Round 2, Pick 20 (52 overall): Marcus Williams, Utah, Safety

Utah’s Marcus Williams (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) is a first-team All-Pac-12 safety as well as a first-team Pac-12 All-Academic selection, so he checks two of the boxes that the Browns are looking for from their players. He has been a starter at free safety since his freshman season, making 28 starts and missing just two games in his career.

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Those two games came this season when injury forced him to miss games against UCLA and Washington, but Williams still finished second in the Pac-12 with four interceptions and, according to Pro Football Focus, only missed three tackles all season – another area where the Browns need major help.

According to The Salt Lake-Tribune: “Williams’ game is powered by immense physical gifts: He has a 38-inch vertical leap (best on the team) that allows him to high-point passes. His sideline-to-sideline speed is probably the best among Utah’s defenders, and it’s rare to see a quarterback throw deep on Utah’s secondary and Williams not at least contest the targeted receiver.”

With a pair of second-round picks and huge holes in the secondary, Baker and Williams could be in play for the Browns on day two of the draft.

Oct 1, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers cornerback Tre’Davious White (18) intercepts a pass against the Missouri Tigers during the first half of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Round 3, Pick 1 (65 overall): Tre’Davious White, LSU, Cornerback

Safety isn’t the only position in the secondary where the Browns need help, so adding a cornerback to along with incumbents Jamar Taylor and Joe Haden would be a plus.

The Browns worked with LSU cornerback Tre’Davious White during practices for the Senior Bowl, but did not have a chance to coach him in the game as he injured his ankle in practice.

White showed his versatility by playing both nickel and outside cornerback for the Tigers, and also had three punt returns of longer than 60 yards for touchdowns.

A four-year starter at LSU and a first-team All-American his senior season, White was also the top-rated cornerback by Pro Football Focus.

We’re not sure how he lasted until the third round, but if he is there when the Browns go on the clock they should grab him up.

Jan 28, 2017; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad quarterback Nate Peterman of Pittsburgh (4) is pressured by South squad defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon of Villanova (92) during the first quarter of the 2017 Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports

Round 4, Pick 1 (106 overall): Tanoh Kpassagnon, Villanova, Defensive line

His career may have gotten off to a slow start, but Villanova defense end Tanoh Kpassagnon made up for it his final two seasons in college.

As a junior he was a first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection after finishing with 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He then took home first-team Associated Press FCS All-American honors as a senior after finishing sixth in the FCS with 21.5 tackles for loss and tying for fifth nationally with 11 sacks.

The 6-foot-7 and 280-pound Kpassagnon also caught the attention of everyone at the Senior Bowl.

“He’s really twitchy for a long, rangy guy,” NFL Network draft analyst Bucky Brooks told mlive.com. “Normally you expect those guys to kind of lumber and labor off the ball, and he doesn’t. He has some quickness. He has some special ability. He has some special qualities, and he’s one of the guys that has been the buzz of the town.”

Round 4, Pick 36 (141 overall): Derek Rivers, Youngstown State, Outside linebacker

Now that the Browns have the defensive line taken care of it is time to add another pass rusher at outside linebacker.

To do that they may only have to look about 75 miles to the east, where they will find Youngstown State outside linebacker Derek Rivers, who is catching the attention of a lot of people during practices for Saturday’s Senior Bowl.

A four-year starter for the Penguins, Rivers was a three-time first-team All-MVFC honoree who finished his collegiate career with 173 career tackles, including 56.5 tackles for loss. The numbers that really jump out are his 48 quarterback hurries and school record 41 sacks in 49 career games.

With an abundance of draft picks and in major need of pass rushers, the players like Kpassagnon and Rivers are the types of gambles the Browns may be able to take in search of a big payoff.

Dec 28, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Ricky Jones (4) carries the ball against Utah Utes defensive end Hunter Dimick (49) during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Utah Utes defeated the Indiana Hoosiers 26-24. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s close out this defense only draft with some depth players for the Browns.

Round 5, Pick 1 (146 overall): Hunter Dimick, Utah, Defensive line

Hunter Dimick finished the 2016 season with 14.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss. According to CBS Sports, while Dimick “lacks traditional edge speed and fluid traits scouts ideally look for at the position, his hustle and energy jumps off the film. He also makes a lot of effort or intelligent plays that won’t show up in the box score, but lead to positive plays like stringing runs outside due to his awareness, dropping and taking away the screen, etc.”

Round 5, Pick 31 (176 overall): Brendan Langley, Lamar, Cornerback

Brendan Langley was a First-Team All-Southland Conference selection at defensive back and also returned punts for Lamar during his senior season. He led the Southland Conference, and was fifth in the nation, with is six interceptions.

Langley started his collegiate career at Georgia, but after spending two years with a coaching staff that didn’t know how to use him, he transferred to Lamar. According to USA Today, Langley has “the ideal size and shape of an NFL cornerback. He is able to wrap up his opposition with relative ease, and is a sure tackler. He is an ideal press-man cornerback, and is aggressive with his receivers at the point of attack.”

December 31, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Clemson Tigers linebacker Ben Boulware (10) tackles Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) in the 2016 CFP semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Round 5, Pick 35 (180 overall): Ben Boulware, Clemson, Linebacker

Last seen making life miserable for Ohio State and Alabama, linebacker Ben Boulware could bring a level of passion to the Browns defense that the unit sorely needs.

According to his NFL.com draft profile, Boulware is: “Tough and highly competitive. Has the attitude and swagger for the position but lacks the desired size and quickness. Margin for error might be too small to become a starter in the league, but his potential on special teams could be a way to open the door to an NFL career.”

Round 6, Pick 1 (186 overall): Jeremy Cutrer, Middle Tennessee, Cornerback

Jeremy Cutrer may not have a lot of experience after only playing in 23 college games, but at 6-foot-2 he has the height to go up against the NFL’s taller wide receivers. He finished his final season at Middle Tennessee with 44 tackles, three interceptions and nine passes defended.

So there you go – one draft and the Browns are well on their way to having a dominant defense. While they obviously would never select all defensive players in one draft, there are plenty of names of this list that Browns fans should keep an eye on in the coming months.