The story in the top half of this year's draft will be what the Browns do as they continue to rebuild their franchise with an eye at finally building a playoff contender.
Owners of the No. 1 and No. 12 overall picks, the Browns have many different paths heading into the draft, but the main question they have to answer is whether to go all-in with Mitchell Trubisky as their quarterback of the future, or to take Myles Garrett No. 1 overall and cross their fingers that Trubisky will be available when they're back on the clock.
The 49ers and Bears have 2017 starters in place, but those players won't preclude them from drafting Trubisky if they're sold on him long-term. The Jaguars could move on from Blake Bortles at any time if they find a more inspiring option. The Jets have possibly the worst quarterback situation in the league. And while the Chargers, Bills and Saints have starters in place, each is on the lookout for their next franchise quarterback. Several other teams could also trade into the top 12 and grab the quarterback.
So if you're the Browns, what do you do? Hope that Trubisky gets by all those teams and makes it to No. 12? Hope the Patriots do decide to trade Jimmy Garoppolo for a manageable cost?
The latter seems unlikely at this point, while the former seems more wishcasting than a strategy to pursue in the draft.
Of course, there's a third option available: If the Browns do decide they have to have Trubisky as their next franchise quarterback -- and if they liked what they saw at Friday's private workout, that may be the case -- they've accumulated enough ammunition to trade up from No. 12.
That's what I have the Browns doing in this mock, striking a trade with the 49ers to move all the way up to No. 2. What would that cost? The Rams moved from No. 15 to No. 1 last year, while the Eagles moved from No. 8 to No. 2. It's reasonable to expect a Browns' move to No. 2 to cost somewhere between those prices. The former deal cost the Rams two seconds and a third in 2016, as well as a first and third in 2017 (and they also received a fourth and a sixth). The latter deal cost the Eagles a third and fourth in 2016 as well as a first in 2017 and a second in 2018 (and they also picked up a fourth).
The Browns have two second-round picks, a third, a fourth, three fifths and two sixths in 2017, as well as all their original picks in 2018 plus two extra seconds, another fourth, and another sixth. Would the 49ers take the 12th, 33rd and 108th picks this year as well as next year's first and third? Considering how many needs they have to address, it's certainly possible. That would leave the Browns with two Day 2 picks and five Day 3 picks this year, as well as nine picks in 2018.
Since we're dabbling in the realm of fantasy here, let's go ahead and strike that trade, guaranteeing the Browns both Garrett and Trubisky at the top of the draft and presumably green-lighting the funding for "Draft Day 2" in the process.
One more note: You'll find what I believe to be the top needs of each team listed before each pick. Selections won't necessarily line up perfectly with needs -- when do they ever? -- but in certain situations a need can be too glaring to ignore.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2017-nfl-mock-draft-browns-trade-for-no-2-pick-then-take-garrett-and-trubisky-1-2/
[ Edited by Ronnie49Lott on Apr 1, 2017 at 4:47 PM ]
