CLEVELAND, Ohio – NFL Network design analyst Daniel Jeremiah, a former Browns scout, wouldn’t rule out an edge rusher for the Browns at # 26, even if they signed Jadeveon Clowney.
“I’m excited that Clowney is coming there,” Jeremiah said at a video conference on Tuesday. “Clearly his career has been characterized by more disruption than production, but given the injury history, his presence won’t stop me from taking the lead. If you think you have an edge rusher out there that is an upgrade, do it. You can’t have too many. ”
Jeremiah named Joe Tryon from Washington and Greg Rousseau from Miami as two edge rushers who would be a good fit for the Browns at number 26, while indicating that those in the first group, such as Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari and Michigan’s Kwity Paye, could have disappeared . Both Tryon and Rousseau opted out in 2020 after excellent 2019 seasons. Jeremiah noted that Rousseau, who was expected to enter the early teens, could partially slide to the Browns due to a lackluster Pro Day in Miami.
“Rousseau took some water after his pro day,” said Jeremiah. ‘I’ll stay with him. I still believe in him. I really like him. But around the league, I think he’s someone who will fall to the back of one and maybe the top of two. ”
Rousseau’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, tweeted on Tuesday, “I have already informed several teams that they will bring him when he arrives when they choose.”
In Jeremiah’s current mock draft, he lets the Browns take Kentucky in linebacker Jamin Davis at number 26, a great playmaker who can cover tight ends and intercepted three passes last year, one of which returned for a touchdown.
“Linebacker-wise they are in a good place,” said Jeremiah. “Jamin Davis is one of my favorite players in the draft. If you look at the Tulsa linebacker [Zaven Collins], he will probably be gone. He’s getting some buzz as we get through the process. He reminds me of Anthony Barr, so I think Zaven Collins is probably gone. But [Nick Bolten] from Missouri is worth going there who can really run and is a good player. Those are some really good options. I don’t know if there is a bad one. ”
If the Browns choose a receiver in the first round, Jeremiah can see the Rashod Batemen of Minnesota, a projected outside receiver riding excellent routes, and Ole Miss’ Elijah Moore, a small, shrewd speedster, as options.
“As for the receiver, unfortunately (LSU) Terrace Marshall had some medical supplies that showed up at the Combine, so I think that could cause him to slip a bit,” Jeremiah said. “I think Rashod Bateman will probably be that guy. “Who falls in that range leaves an early two. Another style of receiver is Elijah Moore, who is below par, but he’s one of my favorite guys because he can do so many different things. He’s exciting.”
Jeremiah calls this “the worst defensive tackle group” he’s seen since 2003.
The Browns’ release of Sheldon Richardson didn’t register with Jeremiah as a “ big step, ” but he also thinks they’d have a hard time finding a replacement in this design. He has only two defensive tackles in his top 75-80 picks at Alabama’s Christian Barmore and Washington’s Levi Onwuzurike.
“The challenge lies in this design, [it’s] so light on defensive tackles, ” he said. It is what it is. It’s the worst defensive tackle group I’ve seen since I started in 2003. So it’s just a really thin, thin year. So maybe it was an eye-catcher [to release Richardson] only from that standpoint, knowing there aren’t many reinforcements to come. “
He considers Barmore a second rounder, but didn’t rule him out for the Browns at number 26.
“He could sneak into the back of one of them,” he said. “I think he will most likely go into the second round. He fits the profile of what traditionally the second round guys are in that he’s a bit of a boom-bust player where you have high highs and then some inconsistent low lows. Some of the things he had to do in Alabama, I don’t know if that suited him too.
‘He’s more of an upfield guy to me. Have him use his athleticism to attack an edge and take to the field. Asking him to play blocks and hang in there, that’s really not his style, even though he’s a big guy with 6-4, 310. To me, he’s a three-pronged technique that’s really athletic to jump into holes. upfield and go. ”
He thinks CB Caleb Farley is worth what the Browns trade for
Jeremiah loves Caleb Farley in the Virginia Tech corner and believes he’s worth trading for. Farley (6-2, 207) underwent off-season back surgery, but expects to be back in time for training camp.
“He’s had some back procedures,” said Jeremiah. If you’re medically comfortable, he was like my fifth or sixth player in the draft. He’s a freak show. I was close to Chris McAlister (1999 first round pick of the Ravens, triple Pro Bowler). That’s what he reminded me of, so he’s a great talent. That just boils down to your doctors and what their level of comfort with him is physically. If they give you okay and he succeeds shoot, that would be a home run pick if he shows up and he’s healthy. ”
He said that if the Browns are comfortable with the medication, it would make sense to climb up to get him. Jeremiah has ranked him number 17 on his top 50 big board.
“He has rare movement skills for such a wide angle,” said Jeremiah. So the timing [of the surgery] does not help. But if you’re the Browns and your medical staff has done their job and they give you a clean bill of health and there’s no long-term risk and they give you the thumbs up, then he’s definitely someone you stick up for. Yep, again I think he’s the most talented corner in the whole design. That’s one of those decisions that really isn’t going to be made by general managers, but by your doctor. ”
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