As the 2015 NFL Draft nears, ClevelandBrowns.com is ramping up its coverage to ensure fans know everything about the team's potential picks.
The Browns have two of them in the first round, of course, so there's plenty of turf to cover.
"Browns draft radar" will give you a glimpse at the nearly two dozen names being mentioned in the same breath as the Cleveland Browns. Today, we dive into defensive lineman who could fill multiple roles if he were selected by the Browns.
Vitals: 6-2, 319 pounds
Who's linking him to the Browns?
Why the Browns would be interested: Browns general manager Ray Farmer talked at length Thursday about the demand for defensive linemen with versatile skill sets. This is pivotal because of the multiple rotations Cleveland -- and most teams, for that matter -- utilize on the defensive line and the limited roster space a team has to stockpile that particular room in its facility. The Browns lost a player who primarily played in the middle of their defensive line (Ahtyba Rubin) but are poised to slide Phil Taylor into that spot for more repetitions. Ishmaa'ily Kitchen is back after playing valuable snaps in 2014, but there's certainly room for another big body or two in the middle of Cleveland's 3-4 defense. Brown, who was a first-team All-American in his final season with the Longhorns, could provide just that while also filling some other spots along the defensive line. His potential versatility in both a 4-3 or 3-4 is a big reason why he's being pegged in the middle of the first round.
Why he could be around at 12 or 19: Because a player like Washington's Danny Shelton has dropped to as far as 19 in some mock drafts, there's reason to believe Brown will be available for the Browns at 12 or 19 because Shelton is consistently rated higher than him in most pre-draft rankings (NFL Network's Mike Mayock is one of the exceptions, who places Brown as the third-best and Shelton as the fourth-best interior lineman). Oregon's Arik Armstead is among many mock drafters' risers and could be selected in favor of Brown by teams such as San Francisco (15th) and San Diego (17th).
Why he won't be around at 12 or 19: Brown being available at No. 12 is very likely. The 19th pick is a different story, as respected draft analysts Daniel Jeremiah, Todd McShay and more believe he'll be off the board by the time Cleveland makes its second pick. The Chargers, McShay wrote, are in need of a big body in the middle of their defensive line while the Chiefs are in the same boat, Jeremiah wrote. Big players who can move and create havoc from the middle of a defensive line are few and far between. It's why players like Brown go in the first round every year.
Stat to know: Brown became the first defensive tackle at Texas since 1984 to lead the team in tackles for loss and sacks.
Quote to note: "Well, when I was growing up, I was just always around older folks. Everybody said I was young but an old soul. That's just how I grew up. When I play, I know when it's time to get serious and I know how to switch it on and off. I know how to get serious and take on responsibility. Just growing up I've always been around that." -- Brown, who is married with two kids
The last time…: The Browns have drafted two players from Texas (Colt McCoy and Emmanuel Acho) since the franchise returned in 1999. Before that, the most recent was Eric Metcalf (1989).
