Mock draft watch: Breaking down Fantasy Pros’ latest projection for the Browns
Marching through “mock draft season”, everyone likes to get in on who the Cleveland Browns will be taking. At this point, without knowing who the Browns have re-signed or have added in free agency, everything is on the table.
This mock draft is brought to you by Fantasy Pros Fantasy Football podcast host, Kyle Yates.
LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa
This draft, all the attention for the Browns should be on their defense. Their offense is humming and they still get Odell Beckham Jr. back in the fold in 2021. The LB spot in Cleveland could use some upgrading and the Browns do just that by bringing in Zaven Collins from Tulsa. He’s a smart and instinctive linebacker that can be a force against the run and also a factor when dropping into coverage, as evidenced by his four interceptions in 2020.
My Opinion
While I don’t disagree with positional need, this is not a draft pick I would expect Andrew Berry to do or sign off on.
According to Over The Cap, in 2020, the Browns had the eighth-lowest salary allocation to the linebacker position and are currently projected to have the lowest salary cap allocation to the position in the entire NFL. With this in mind, the current Browns regime, to this point, has not allocated significant resources in the linebacker position, and spending a first-round draft pick at the position would be out of character for this front office and coaching staff.
