As the NFL Draft approaches, teams are scrambling to figure out their final big boards. Players are setting up their personal family parties and practicing their facial expressions of when they will be drafted. There have been many rumors as to who the Cleveland Browns will select with the 6th selection in the NFL Draft. Days leading up to the draft, teams will talk about how much they love a player just to get another team to jump up in front of them so they can target a player they really do want. Other times, they will use this tactic to devise a trade with a team that is vying for a prospect. Many times, teams will reach for a player that is not worth the value at which they are drafted. Those teams are usually consistent top ten selection teams (Raiders, Jaguars, etc.). Other teams (Patriots, Packers, Steelers), will draft a player at their correct value, or work diligently to find the right players for their system. Here is Legion Report’s ranking of players that the Browns should draft based on the value of the 6th pick:
1. Dee Milliner Cornerback Alabama
Last season’s cornerbacks featured Joe Haden and Sheldon Brown. Haden will most certainly be the featured starter and potentially an All-Pro this season. Brown, however, is not going to be back with the team. The team ranked 25th in pass defense this season, leading to speculation that a cornerback will be drafted to replace Brown. In the first game, Brown covered Jeremy Maclin, who caught the game winning touchdown. Joe Haden was suspended four games and Sheldon Brown played in three of the four games as the lead cornerback. In those games, receivers averaged 71 yards per game. Milliner will definitely add some athleticism to this young, yet potent defense. In his junior season, Milliner had 54 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery
2. Shariff Floyd Defensive Tackle Florida
Floyd is an ideal NFL defensive lineman, standing 6’3’’ and weighing almost 300 lbs. With the team switching to a 3-4 defense, lineman will be subbing consistently to keep each other fresh. Floyd already has a 3-4 background from his playing days under Wil Muschamp at Florida. His junior season saw him have 46 total tackles and 2.0 sacks. The Browns need help along the front lines since opponents averaged 118 yards per game on them. Good for 18th in the lead.
3. Trade the pick
Make no mistake; this draft does not have a star player that you can reach for early in the draft. If neither of these players is available at the 6th pick, I would suggest trading down. There are plenty of players that would be excellent picks in the 12-22 range. Some players that could be outstanding value picks would be receivers Tavon Austin and Cordarrelle Patterson, safety Kenny Vaccaro, and DE Barkevious Mingo. There have been rumors that the Dolphins would want to swap picks with the Browns. With the 12th pick, they could potentially draft Chance Warmack or Jonathon Cooper. These players do not deserve to be in the top ten selections being guards. There have been some rumblings that the Falcons LOVE Dee Milliner. The Browns and Falcons do have a draft history (Julio Jones, ugh). It should take a lot for the Falcons to move up 24 slots, but I highly doubt the Browns would let Milliner get past the 6th selection. Some have heard about Geno Smith being a wild card at the 6 spot. Sorry, but this has to be a smoke screen. Personally, I’m betting the Browns are hoping someone will offer the Lions a trade they cannot refuse because they’re the only team that will potentially draft Dee Milliner in front of the Browns. Smith will be a waste of a selection in the top ten. Draft evaluators must remember he played in the Big East!
With that I wish all Browns fans good luck. We have endured a long and tiring drought from the playoffs. Hopefully this season will bring many cheers on Sunday afternoons and extend into February for the playoffs.