2015 NFL Mock Draft 3.0 Cleveland Browns

Looking for changes from an earlier NFL Mock Draft? You’ve come to the right place.

With March 10 less than a week away, it is the final NFL Mock Draft before the new National Football League calendar and free agency open up. Not a lot has gone down since the conclusion of the NFL Combine to leave experts and casual observes alike to believe that you should see any significant changes from a NFL Mock Draft that was posted one week ago. Teams tied players down via franchise tags, as expected, and the only man who was somewhat of a surprise to be set free into free agency was Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Yes, the Browns should pursue Suh next week, and that reality is reflected in this week’s NFL Mock Draft.

2015 NFL Mock Draft 3.0: Cleveland Browns

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Jameis Winston, Florida State

Famous Jameis is continuing to do the right things during this interview process. Every NFL Mock Draft should have Winston going No. 1 overall.

2. Tennessee Titans: DT Leonard Williams, Southern California

Marcus Mariota still isn’t the right fit or a value pick for the Titans here.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Randy Gregory, Nebraska

Jacksonville going defense here gets more and more likely with every week. Free agency could change that, but don’t hold your breaths.

4. Oakland Raiders: WR Amari Cooper, Alabama

I’m happy for Kevin White that he performed so well at the combine. I need to see and hear more before I put him ahead of Mr. Cooper in my NFL Mock Draft.

5. Washington Redskins: OT Brandon Scherff, Iowa

I am keeping my eye on this pick over the next several weeks. Washington must upgrade at the position, yes, but the possibility exists that the Redskins could snatch Mariota to force the Philadelphia Eagles to go all-in on the Oregon product.

6. Philadelphia Eagles: QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon

TRADE: The only way that Philadelphia head coach Chip Kelly could be more obvious about his plan would be to take out a television advertisement and proclaim to the masses that he is, in fact, rebuilding the Ducks while with the Eagles.

7. Chicago Bears: DT Danny Shelton, Washington

This is a consensus pick at this stage of the process, but only if Shelton drops down to the Bears at No. 7. Some are suggesting that the defensive tackle could be a top-five selection.

8. Atlanta Falcons: LB Dante Fowler, Florida

Changing this pick in my latest NFL Mock Draft would be doing so to do it.

9. New York Giants: DE Shane Ray, Missouri

As more time passes, I become more convinced that the Giants will not pass on a talented DE for an offensive lineman that the team desperately needs. Sorry, Eli Manning.

10. St. Louis Rams: WR Kevin White, West Virginia

White at No. 10 could be the steal of the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

11. Minnesota Vikings: WR DeVante Parker, Louisville

With Adrian Peterson likely on his way out of town, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater needs another weapon. Why not an old friend from his college days?

12. Cleveland Browns: OT La'el Collins, LSU

Only when I see with my own eyes that the previously mentioned Suh is no longer an available option for the Browns will I consider changing this prediction in my NFL Mock Draft. Cleveland going defense here is very likely due to head coach Mike Pettine wanting and needing to bolster that part of his squad, but general manager Ray Farmer could do his coach a solid by grabbing the top free agent and best defensive player on the market. That would make signing a defensive end/defensive tackle here silly.

Cooper, Parker and White are the only wide receivers worthy being taken at No. 12 as of the posting of this piece. The Browns could use the help up front on offense, and Collins is, in this simulation, the best of the bunch. It is not sexy, no, but this would be a good get for Cleveland assuming that the franchise somehow woos Suh.

13. New Orleans Saints: DE/LB Vic Beasley, Florida

The Saints have to grab Beasley if he falls to No. 13

14. Miami Dolphins: CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State

This pick could easily change to a wide receiver if the Dolphins are unable to find one in free agency that the club likes.

15. San Francisco 49ers: OT Andrus Peat, Stanford

Know what I wrote about the Dolphins? That holds true for the Niners here.

16. Houston Texans: SS Landon Collins, Alabama

I just can’t talk myself into slotting an offensive lineman in my NFL Mock Draft here; yet.

17. San Diego Chargers: RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin

I understand Todd Gurley is the consensus No. 1 running back in this class. Remember that this NFL Mock Draft is being put together in March and not on April 30.

18. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Ereck Flowers, Miami

The Chiefs could potentially burn the Browns and take a wide receiver here.

19. Cleveland Browns: WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona State

The song remains the same for the Browns at pick No. 19. Farmer and Pettine can say whatever they want about how they do or do not value the wide receiver position. Fans may literally carry them both out of town if the subject is not addressed in the first round of the draft. Strong would be a reach at No. 12, but he is good value at No. 19. Defensive tackle Malcom Brown out of Texas could be the pick if things do not go Cleveland’s way earlier in the draft.

For more: 2015 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Cleveland Browns

Zac has been covering the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and National Football League for a variety of websites since 2006. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.