Matthew Dellavedova’s accent is spectacular, and JR Smith has a 13 handicap
February 11, 2015Jimmy Haslam says everything is perfectly fine in Berea
February 11, 2015The NFL Draft is under three months away with the first round kicking off on April 30th. The Browns have a lot of holes to fill this offseason and No. 12 and No. 19 pick in the first round will be a great way to fill some of their needs. The team’s biggest needs are probably quarterback, wide receiver, and defensive line. Mel Kiper has the Browns filling two of those needs with their two first round picks of his latest mock draft.
With the 12th pick in the NFL Draft, Kiper has the Browns selecting wide receiver Devante Parker out of the University of Louisville. The Browns are in need of a couple receivers, especially with the loss of Josh Gordon. Parker is a tall receiver at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds and was very productive in his senior season, though in limited action. The senior receiver had 43 receptions for 855 yards and five touchdowns in just six games last year with the Cards. Here is what Kiper says about the selection:
Devante Parker
COLLEGE: Louisville Class: Sr HT: 6-2 WT: 207 POS: WR
Analysis: I’ve said before the Browns had one of the strangest, yet really good drafts in recent memory with their 2014 class. They have a total question mark when it comes to their first two picks (Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel), but not only did they add an extra first-round pick for 2015, they nailed pretty much every pick beyond that first round. What they didn’t do was get a high-upside talent at wide receiver, and Parker has as high a ceiling as you can find in this class. He can beat defenders to the ball with his size, leaping ability and catch radius, and he’s underrated as a threat to add yards after the catch on short throws. With Josh Gordon potentially done in Cleveland — at a minimum he’s gone for 2015 — Parker looks like a no-brainer here.
With the 19th pick, Kiper has the Browns selecting defensive tackle Eddie Goldman out of Florida State. The Browns’ defensive line really struggled last year with injuries and underperformance. Goldman would definitely beef up the Browns’ line with his 6-foot-3, 315-pound frame. In 14 games last season, the junior defensive lineman had 25 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, and one forced fumble. He would insert a lot of youth and talent into the Browns’ thin defensive line. Here is what Kiper had to say about the pick:
Eddie Goldman
COLLEGE: Florida State Class: Jr HT: 6-3 WT: 315 POS: DT
Analysis: When Phil Taylor got hurt last year, the Browns really suffered, particularly when it came to stopping the run. It’s a pretty good example of why you can be only as good as your depth on the defensive line over a long NFL season. The Browns have an extra pick, and given they already added a weapon in the passing game with their earlier pick, this is a good time to add one help on the defensive line. I can see a guy like Malcolm Brown or Jordan Phillips entering the conversation here, but Goldman is a player who already was pretty good in 2014, even when you feel like he’s just scratching the surface of his potential. A healthy Browns defense with some added help up front and a healthy Taylor has the potential to be pretty darn good in 2015.
Stats from the college’s websites
14 Comments
Love Parker which means it’s not happening!
One question to Kiper:
How are the Browns going to draft the Texas RB who is returning to the Longhorns? If we want the Texas DT, then we need to draft Malcom Brown. I don’t mind when we get the names wrong, we aren’t getting paid. But, if you are getting paid the big bucks by the mouse, then you should probably check on spellings.
http://texassports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5117
Not sure if Goldman would be a NT or DE for our 3-4. He is not a pass-rusher and is strong at the point of attack, so that lends me to want him on the inside, but he might not be able to handle NFL double-teams quite yet. He is my 3rd ranked interior DL guy though and would be a welcome addition if Shelton is gone.
Love this place, love the articles. No one is giving 2 shits about the Browns right now. We all have a love hangover. Destroyed by circumstances like a bullet to the head. 7-9 will be lucky next year whether we re-sign Hoyer or not. Go Johnny, go Josh. No, I mean GO.
i do like Parker, but i want more size. something like 6’5″ 230. Oh, wait, what do you know…
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/devin-funchess?id=2552458
Oh good, last year we had no WRs so we drafted a QB. This year we have no QB so why not draft a WR?
that is a fantastic breakdown of him. the weaknesses paragraph perfectly explains why to avoid him:
WEAKNESSES Pass-catching is labored. Allows throws into his frame and catches back half of football at times. Tagged with 20 drops over last three seasons. Isn’t a lock to high-point a throw and doesn’t attack throws. Won’t win enough 50/50 throws. Stifled by inconsistent passing attack. Tends to show monotone, one-note play speed. Hard to find a second gear on tape. Gears down into cuts and slow to accelerate out of breaks.
Mel Kiper’s accuracy rate is about 15%. I’d say take his pronouncements with a grain of salt, but that would be a waste of salt.
Haha. I was kinda hoping you wouldn’t read that part.
But did you see he has “separating hands??!??”
Funchess is a physical freak. Having watched essentially all of his college games, though, he has a tiny bit of Braylon Edwards in him: he can make all of the circus catches when he’s focused, but he drops A LOT of easy balls. That said, when he decides to be on, he’s physically unguardable due to his size and speed.
Yeah, I think your hands are supposed to come together when you catch the ball. What is he separating with those hands?
He’s going to kill it at the combine.
Just think of him as the Mike Mamula of WRs.
Like DP, I’ve seen all his games.
hi MG … the browns have the ammo to move up & get shelton , if that is who they truly covet. i’d rather we stay put at 12 & 19 & try to pluck a couple of guys who can start right away. and every mock has the browns taking a WR at 12 or 19 … i don’t think it will happen. you saw what farmer did last draft , even knowing he’s be without josh gordon. farmer seems to be following the seahawk method of valuing WR’s … you basically don’t.
yes, it’s possible that Farmer does not value WR in the 1st round. we will see in this draft (it could have been he felt CB & QB were bigger needs last year).
anyway, I am not sure we need to move up to get Shelton. I showed a couple days ago how DTs like him tend to drop to around where the Browns pick. I am hopeful that he is there at 12.