Cleveland Browns: What Is The Priority In Round One?

Reports suggest the Browns plan to come out of round one with a wide receiver and an offensive tackle, using picks six and 24. The tough decision will be which to pick first, knowing that getting the best player at both positions is likely impossible. At pick six, they will potentially have their choice of any receiver and any tackle except for Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, unless a team ahead of them strays from projections.

If the Browns opt to select a tackle first, they will have to decide between choosing a true left tackle or a right tackle and converting him to the left side. After trading for and paying Houston Texans tackle Tytus Howard to start on the right side, it would be surprising, given his age of nearly 30 and limited experience at left tackle, for the Browns to move him over.

The board would not be strongly in the Browns’ favor in this scenario. Mauigoa and Utah’s Spencer Fano are considered to be the best tackles in the class, but both primarily play right tackle, and both are potential movers to guard given their size and arm length. If the Browns want a true left tackle, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling or Utah’s Caleb Lomu would be the best options. Freeling excelled at the NFL Combine, showing off his rare athleticism and drastically raising his draft stock. Lomu is a decent athlete in his own right with sound technique to match, but both players would be slight reaches at sixth overall.

Choosing a receiver at six would potentially allow them to keep Ohio State’s Carnell Tate in-state, and Tate is regarded as one of the best prospects in the class and would not be a reach. Receiver is arguably the deepest position group in the draft, and as many as seven receivers could be selected in the first round alone, meaning the Browns could potentially find their game-changing receiver later. Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion, Washington’s Denzel Boston, and Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. could all be available when the Browns are back on the clock at 24.

Given the comparative lack of depth of first-round talent at tackle, Cleveland should prioritize tackle first, receiver later. Nearly every team in the league can use an offensive lineman, and given the versatility of many of the tackles, the Browns may end up taking whoever is left rather than who they wanted should they wait. If all of the top receivers are selected by 24, this draft is loaded with talented receivers throughout every round that Cleveland can pivot to. Doing the same at tackle would be significantly more challenging, making tackle a bigger priority.