Considering the wide world of draft analysts are as divided as ever, it's about time we took our best guesses at who the Browns might select with the 17th overall pick.
This year, we're rolling with a four-man team of prognosticators: Andrew Gribble, Jason Gibbs, Nathan Zegura and Nick Shook.
This is our first of three mocks before general manager John Dorsey hands in the card April 25. We'll keep each other honest by tracking the predictions as they develop.
For a full analysis of the picks, make sure to subscribe to "Best Podcast Available."
Andrew Gribble - Senior Writer
1) Cardinals - DE Nick Bosa (Ohio State)
2) 49ers - EDGE Josh Allen (Kentucky)
3) Jets - DT Quinnen Williams (Alabama)
4) Raiders - QB Kyler Murray (Oklahoma)
5) Buccaneers - DE Montez Sweat (Mississippi State)
6) Giants - QB Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State)
7) Jaguars - WR D.K. Metcalf (Ole Miss)
8) Lions - EDGE Clelin Ferrell (Clemson)
9) Bills - TE T.J. Hockenson (Iowa)
10) Broncos - OL Jonah Williams (Alabama)
11) Bengals - DE Rashan Gary (Michigan)
12) Packers - LB Devin White (LSU)
13) Dolphins - OT Andre Dillard (Washington State)
14) Falcons - DT Ed Oliver (Houston)
15) Redskins - EDGE Brian Burns (Florida State)
16) Panthers - OT Jawaan Taylor (Florida)
17) BROWNS - DT Christian Wilkins (Clemson) - The three-time, first-team All-American would simultaneously be the best player available and the best need-filler. Pair him up with Larry Ogunjobi, and the Browns have two interior defensive linemen who can get to the quarterback.
Jason Gibbs - Producer, CBD, Best Podcast Available
1) Cardinals - QB Kyler Murray (Oklahoma)
2) 49ers - DE Nick Bosa (Ohio State)
3) Jets - EDGE Josh Allen (Kentucky)
4) Raiders - DE Montez Sweat (Mississippi State)
5) Buccaneers - DT Quinnen Williams (Alabama)
6) Giants - QB Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State)
7) Jaguars - OT Jawaan Taylor (Florida)
8) Lions - DE Rashan Gary (Michigan)
9) Bills - WR D.K. Metcalf (Ole Miss)
10) Broncos - OL Jonah Williams (Alabama)
11) Bengals - LB Devin White (LSU)
12) Packers - WR Marquise Brown (Oklahoma)
13) Dolphins - QB Drew Lock (Missouri)
14) Falcons - DT Christian Wilkins (Clemson)
15) Redskins - DT Ed Oliver (Houston)
16) Panthers - TE T.J. Hockenson (Iowa)
17) BROWNS - CB Byron Murphy (Washington) - While I think offensive line is in play, I just wanted to be difficult and not take a lineman that early. In this mock, the DTs are off the board and I'm not sure a DE rotational player makes sense as a first-round pick. So, how about another shutdown corner opposite of Denzel Ward? Murphy is very intelligent and a ball hawk. This looks like a total John Dorsey move to me, and one I wouldn't be upset about.
Nathan Zegura - Senior Media Broadcaster
1) Cardinals - QB Kyler Murray (Oklahoma)2) 49ers - DE Nick Bosa (Ohio State)3) Jets - DT Quinnen Williams (Alabama)4) Raiders - EDGE Josh Allen (Kentucky)5) Buccaneers - OT Andre Dillard (Washington State)6) Giants - QB Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State)7) Jaguars - TE T.J. Hockenson (Iowa)8) Lions - DE Montez Sweat (Mississippi State)9) Bills - WR D.K. Metcalf (Ole Miss)10) Broncos - OT Jawaan Taylor (Florida)11) Bengals - LB Devin White (LSU)12) Packers - DE Rashan Gary (Michigan)13) Dolphins - OL Jonah Williams (Alabama)14) Falcons - EDGE Brian Burns (Florida State)15) Redskins - QB Drew Lock (Missouri)16) Panthers - TE Noah Fant (Iowa)* 17) BROWNS* - DT Ed Oliver (Houston) - The Browns have a multitude of options at pick 17 with the run on OTs, QBs and TEs in the top 16 picks. That includes Oliver, Wilkins, Brown, Michigan LB Devin Bush and all of the CBs in this draft class. This would be a dream scenario for Browns fans because Dorsey would get his pick of some elite talent. Ultimately, I could see the Browns going with either Wilkins or Oliver, but the pick is Oliver here because the notion of putting an Aaron Donald type of interior disrupter/pass rusher on the line alongside Myles Garrett is too enticing to pass up.
Nick Shook - Staff Writer
1) Cardinals - DE Nick Bosa (Ohio State)
2) 49ers - DT Quinnen Williams (Alabama)
3) Jets - EDGE Josh Allen (Kentucky)
4) Raiders - DE Montez Sweat (Mississippi State)
5) Buccaneers - LB Devin White (LSU)
6) Giants - QB Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State)
7) Jaguars - QB Kyler Murray (Oklahoma)
8) Lions - DE Rashan Gary (Michigan)
9) Bills - WR D.K. Metcalf (Ole Miss)
10) Broncos - OT Jawaan Taylor (Florida)
11) Bengals - TE T.J. Hockenson (Iowa)
12) Packers - TE Noah Fant (Iowa)
13) Dolphins - OL Jonah Williams (Alabama)
14) Falcons - DT Ed Oliver (Houston)
15) Redskins - QB Daniel Jones (Duke)
16) Panthers - OT Andre Dillard (Washington State)
17) BROWNS - DT Christian Wilkins (Clemson) - The Browns could go a number of directions here, but ultimately choose the best player available and shore up their interior defensive line with a player whose teammates gushed about him during Combine media interviews.
