2020 NFL Draft: How far does Tua Tagovailoa fall in first-round mock draft?

The sky is the limit for this Cleveland Browns roster. The one thing that will keep the Browns from reaching that potential? Their offensive line. Their terrible, horrible offensive line (in spots, at times). Sure, the Browns have Joel Bitonio and J.C. Tretter, but beyond that their offensive line is mediocre at best.

As a Browns fan, I wouldn’t be mad if they took offensive linemen with each of their first three picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. That’s how confident I am in the rest of the lineup and how bad I think the rest of the offensive line is right now.

Greg Robinson has shown flashes of his top-two pick potential but has failed to deliver consistently as he has bounced around teams and was even benched this season. The right side of the line? Don’t get me started.

While they have played okay lately, and the playcalling has been better about getting the ball out of Baker Mayfield‘s hands quicker, the offensive line still needs to be addressed. There is a reason that the Browns were the main team linked to Trent Williams at the trade deadline. They need a solid left tackle. I know it, you know it and John Dorsey knows it.

With Thomas and Wirfs off the board, taking any other offensive tackle at this point in the draft may be a bit of a reach. I’m not sure there is another guy that is worth a top 15 pick after those top two, but if Dorsey finds one that he likes, that’s where he needs to go here.

In this situation, Dorsey and the Browns select Alabama left tackle Alex Leatherwood. With Tua out, Leatherwood is now the blindside protector of his quarterback but was not with the southpaw under center. Leatherwood feels “at home” at the left tackle but has spent time at other positions on the line as well.

Leatherwood is extremely athletic for a tackle with experience as a pulling guard. He has quick feet to stay in front of quick edge rushers and can get out and block in space on screens. He has a prototypical frame for an NFL tackle and possesses the strength to be a force at the next level. He is very effective in the run game, bullying defenders and opening holes.

Whether it is Leatherwood, Jedrick Wills, Austin Jackson or any other offensive tackle that they have a first-round grade on, if Dorsey and the Browns do their homework and think that one of these guys can protect Baker Mayfield’s blindside effectively for years to come, they need to take him with this pick.

They can further address their offensive line and other needs on the other side of the ball throughout the rest of the draft and in free agency, but a left tackle of the future needs to be a priority for the Browns in the 2020 NFL Draft.