Here are my five wishes for the Browns in the 2016 NFL Draft:
1. Get wide receivers. This position could be the Browns’ target in the first round if the right offer to trade down again comes along. I’m all for that, especially if they can add another second-rounder and end up with Mississippi receiver Laquon Treadwell. But if they don’t, they need to address the weakest position on the team with multiple picks and some priority free agents. I believe in Terrelle Pryor, but I wish he had started his transition from quarterback to receiver much earlier in his career.
2. Draft Buckeyes. The Browns haven’t selected a player from Ohio State since receiver Brian Robiskie in 2009. Since then, the Pittsburgh Steelers have taken six, and four of them (Cameron Heyward, Mike Adams, Ryan Shazier, Doran Grant) are still on the roster. I believe OSU running back Ezekiel Elliott is the best player in this draft. But I can’t see the Browns’ brain trust using the eighth overall pick on him, as attractive as he is as a breakaway threat, with a cut time of two-tenths of a second (as quick as Adrian Peterson, according to an ESPN Sports Science segment), and with his ability to block and catch passes out of the backfield. (Imagine the Thunder-and-Lightning duo he and Duke Johnson could be, especially on a team that lacks receivers.) But if they don’t land Elliott, the Browns should snatch up two or three Buckeyes on Day 2 and 3. My top four (in order) are tight end Nick Vannett, receiver Michael Thomas, linebacker Joshua Perry and receiver Braxton Miller. I would love to see Vannett, almost an afterthought for the talent-laden Buckeyes, playing with “Big Play” Gary Barnidge.
3. Emphasize game-changers. At the moment, I can’t think of one on the Browns’ roster except maybe Barnidge, and he’s nowhere near Gronk status. That has to change as the team enters the rebuilding phase. The Browns need players who opposing coaches must game-plan around, most notably a pass rusher, a cornerback, safeties, linebackers and receivers.
4. Draft University of Akron linebacker Jatavis Brown. I don’t care if the 2015 Mid-American Conference defensive player of the year is 5-foot-10¾ and 221 pounds. The native of Belle Glade, Fla. (a hotbed of NFL talent), has a knack for making big plays. He finished his UA career with 18 sacks, 41½ tackles for losses, 10 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception. If he gets past the fourth round, I’d take him, even if he’s forced to switch to safety or merely takes over for departed free agent Johnson Bademosi as the Browns’ special teams ace. I think he can be more than that. So does Zips coach Terry Bowden, who compared him to 15-year NFL linebacker Takeo Spikes, a two-time Pro Bowler.
5. Consider Jaylon Smith. The Notre Dame linebacker might go in the first round despite tearing the ACL and MCL and suffering nerve damage in his left knee against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. If the fact that he’ll probably be forced to sit out his rookie season causes him to slide to the fourth round or later, I believe he’s worth the risk. I might even take him in the second round if the Browns trade down from No. 8 and pick up another pick there. I was struck by the sincerity and humility of the young man during bowl week and have been smitten with him ever since.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her blog at www.ohio.com/marla. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.