The Cleveland Browns won't be picking tonight in round one unless John Dorsey decides that someone is worth trading up for.The Browns have shuffled their surplus picks away with the exception of two extra fifth rounders so the Browns might be able to use those for a move up in the third or fourth rounds if a player there strikes Dorsey's fancy.
For the purposes of the Persons of Interests posts, I'm looking at players that I like in the draft that aren't of first-round projection and focus on the Browns second-round pick and maybe a sleeper or two.
The Browns biggest offensive need is along the line and since they drafted Austin Corbett for a guard spot, the Browns could be looking at right tackle for an eventual upgrade over Chris Hubbard, who was average in his first season since being signed from Pittsburgh.
Should the Browns decide to go tackle in round two, the two players that could be there that I like are Greg Little of Ole Miss or Kaleb McGary of Washington.
McGary is more of a traditional mauling tackle that is closer to NFL ready, while Little is the more athletic finesse tackle that might take a bit longer to develop, but has a higher upside and the time spent working with Little could have him ready to go as Hubbard's contract expires.
Should the Browns decide to groom the center to be the successor to JC Tretter, Elston Jenkins of Mississippi State would be a good day pick on day two, but should the Browns decide to wait until the final day, Lamont Gaillard of Georgia might be a solid starter down the road.
The Browns would be looking for depth at running back or wide receiver but might be looking for a tight end that could eventually be more than just depth.
In a running back group that isn't as strong as past years, my favorite back was Miles Sanders of Penn State, but he'll likely go in the 3rd or 4th round and I can't see the Browns taking a back that early.
If they want to use a day three pick on a back, they could do worse than Mike Weber of Ohio State or Benny Snell of Kentucky.
Neither player might be a dynamic back like Nick Chubb or Kareem Hunt, but either could be solid backs in a rotation.
At wide receiver, my favorites are Hakeem Butler of Iowa State and Terry McLaurin of Ohio State.
Butler might have to be the Browns second rounder if they want to land the rangy 6'5 Cyclone.
Butler could turn out to be a possession receiver with a huge red zone presence, while McLaurin just improved every year with the Buckeyes, could help with special teams and might available early in day three.
I also like Riley Ridley of Georgia, who isn't as fast as his brother Calvin of the Falcons but might have better hands, but the Browns will have to use a day two pick for him.
The two tight ends from Iowa will be long gone for the Browns in round two, but the player that intrigues me could be available in the later rounds is Donald Parham of Stetson, who is a big target at 6'8, athletic (Parham is faster than top rated TE T.J. Hockenson of Iowa and is from a football background with his dad and four uncles each playing college football.
Parham is toolsy in baseball parlance and he has only played five years of football so he will be a project, but he caught 85 passes for Stetson last season alone and might be one of those former basketball players that come out of nowhere.
I think the Browns will take a quarterback on the third day, likely with one of those three fifth rounders, should they not trade any of those picks to move up on day two.
The quarterback I'm most familiar with is Boise State's Brett Rypien and I'd be fine with Rypien, but the player that Rypien beat out to start with the Broncos is considered the better pro prospect in Ryan Finley of N.C.State.
John Dorsey may have to use a higher pick such as their fourth and possibly even a third to grab Finley and I think that's more than Cleveland will be willing to pay.
David Blough of Purdue has the type of NFL arm that might be worth a flier late in the draft as that developmental quarterback that the Browns might be interested in.
Those are a few interesting names on the offensive side, but what about the defensive side?
I'll do my best to have those players listed here before the draft starts.
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