2012 NFL Mock Draft Cleveland Browns 7 Round Mock

The Cleveland Browns were a team of transition in 2011 and still must finish up that rebuilding project. Switching from a 34 to a 43 requires a complete overhaul of personal as does going from a Mangini style offense to a West Coast style offense. There is some nice talent on the Cleveland Browns, but they must continue to add key pieces on both sides of the ball. I think one of the interesting questions moving forward is do the Browns feel Colt McCoy is a franchise Quarterback? That could really effect a lot of things in the draft.  I’m going to assume the Browns are picking around 6th overall. The Browns have all of their picks rounds 1 through 7 and an extra 1st rounder and 2nd rounder from the Julio Jones trade.

Scouting reports for these players can be found by clicking on the names and you can check out all of our scouting reports on our scouting report page.

After reading the mock let me know what you think.

1st Round-Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Jabaal Sheard is playing well, but the Browns have 2 sacks from their two defensive ends opposite Sheard. Jayme Mitchell has 6  sacks…in his entire six year career. This a position that still needs to be upgraded. I think if they don’t go Richardson or quarterback with their first pick than the value will lie in Coples, unless Justin Blackmon is available who fits their offensive system very well. Coples has a lot of potential and versatility, he’s not my favorite player, but he’s been playing a lot better in the second half of the season than he did the first half of the season. I think he can play DT or DE for the Browns. He’s not a great prospect to me, but defensive linemen are more important than linebackers in the 43 which is why I think the Browns could grab Coples with their first pick.

1st Round-Zach Brown, LB, UNC

I think Brown can definitely go higher than this, but maybe not. Brown is a freak of an athlete who reminds a lot of people of Aaron Curry who was drafted in the top five. The other pick I considered here was taking a cornerback like Alfonzo Dennard or Stephon Gilmore. I think adding two good defenders in the first round is a good way to go, there will be some quality wide receivers available at the top of the second round. The fact that I went North Carolina players back to back is purely coincidence.

2nd Round-Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

I’m a big Sanu fan. I think he’s versatile, tough and a great fit for the Browns offense. Sanu can take some shorter passes and get up the field and pick up yards after the catch. Sanu has good size and great vision. If he can get into an offense where he can concentrate on polishing his game as a wide receiver he has a shot at being a legitimate number one wide receiver and in any case should be a plus playmaker at the N.F.L. level.

3rd Round-LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

The Browns are picking early in the draft so to me this is more like a second round pick than a third round pick which means James could be available. Right now the Browns are lacking speed on offense. If the Browns want a guy who can take a short pass to the house James is the man. James might not ever be a conventional running back, but in an offense that has a lot of shorter passes and dump offs to the running backs or screen passes James can be a real big time weapon. I think James to the Browns is another good fit.

4th Round-Amini Silatolu, G, Midwestern State

I haven’t gotten around to a scouting report for Silatolu, but he’s a name casual draft will become accustomed to leading up to the draft much like Will Rackley last year. Silatolu might not be ready to start next year, but he provided immediate depth and can develop into a starter for the Browns along the interior of their offensive line.

4th Round-Nico Johnson, LB, Alabama

Even though the Browns added a linebacker in the first round, they could stand to add one or even two more. Their linebacker corps, to put it nicely, is awful. Johnson could stay at Alabama and try to improve his draft stock, but right now I think he’s a mid round draft pick (though our scouting report written by a fan from Bammahammer disagrees!) so this is also good value. Brown is going to play Will most likely, or possibly MLB in some defensive systems and Johnson can play SAM linebacker.

5th Round-Donnie Fletcher, CB, Boston College

Donnie Fletcher hasn’t had the greatest season this year, but he’s talented. If you haven’t noticed a theme for what I’m doing with the Browns here it is improving the defense on all three levels and adding speed on offense. The Browns have a lot of improvements to make and really need to find players who are going to fit their systems because their offensive and defensive systems are so much different than what they were under Mangini.

6th Round-Janzen Jackson, S, McNeese State

Jackson is talented, but comes with baggage. Last year the Browns drafted two talented players who had some “character concerns”, they are not to the level of Jackson’s, but this is also a 6th round pick not a first round pick. Jackson is very talented and could have put himself into the conversation to be one of the first two or three safeties drafted if he had a huge season, but he had to leave Tennessee to go to McNeese state, where I have not wathced him play to be honest. The Browns could use some youth and talent at the free safety position.

7th Round-Marvin Jones, WR, California Golden Bears

Meh wasn’t sure where to go here and the Browns probably don’t need another late round wide receiver, but in the late rounds teams just need guys who have a shot to make rosters. You take a pretty talented player and just hope he develops into a T.J. Houshmandzadeh  (7th round) Victor Cruz (UDFA) or Wes Welker (UDFA).

Let me know what you think Browns fans, and be sure to follow us on twitter @NFLmocks