PFF is putting together team-specific draft boards for all 32 teams using our draft rankings and evaluation of how each player fits in specific schemes.
Included are three ideal targets for each team with their first-, second-, and third-round picks, along with a team-specific draft board [scroll down to bottom of article] that includes every player in PFF's draft rankings.
Here is the entry for the Cleveland Browns:
Round 1 (eighth overall)
Despite differing reports on Myles Jack’s knee, there is no denying his athleticism and tremendous upside. Jack might be the best pure athlete in this draft class, and his improvement in the run game before his early-season injury was a great sign. He didn’t shy away from taking on blockers when he needed to. While he wasn’t asked to rush the passer much at UCLA, there is nothing about his game that says he can’t. Our top-graded coverage linebacker in 2014, Jack’s role as a hybrid player would be a great fit in Cleveland.
Doctson is now very much in play for the Browns in the first round after the trade. A position the team has lacked in recent years, Doctson would instantly upgrade the receiving corps in Cleveland. With Josh Gordon looking less likely to every play again in the NFL, the Browns taking a WR early would fill a major position of need without reaching. Our top-graded receiver before injuring his wrist, Doctson’s body control and ability to catch wayward passes is top notch.
In a best-case scenario, Buckner falls to No. 8 and the Browns get an absolute monster. Buckner is our No. 2 player overall, and is a perfect scheme fit. The former Oregon Duck is a freak athlete and dominated the Pac-12 in back-to-back seasons. He graded as the best interior defender in 2015, and should be very productive in the NFL.
Round 2 (32nd overall)
Noah Spence, ED, Eastern Kentucky
Spence has his off-field issues, but if he puts those behind him, the Browns would be getting a pass-rusher that dominated the Senior Bowl. He is questionable as a run-defender, but his tremendous upside as a pass-rush specialist is too much to pass up on.
Any ideas of who the Browns front office likes at the quarterback position is purely guesswork at this point. While we view Lynch as a third-round prospect, it’s not out of the question to draft the former Tiger at the top of the second round. He might be gone by this pick in reality, but the need for a QB is evident. While it’s becoming more likely that Robert Griffin III will be starting in 2016, Lynch is a good option to sit and learn for a year or two. Lynch has solid accuracy (77.1 percent adjusted completion percentage, fourth-best in class) and has good mobility.
Michael Thomas, WR, Southern Mississippi
How the first round will pan out with the receivers is anyone’s guess, but if the Browns pick the “other” Michael Thomas, no Cleveland fan should scratch their head. This version was snubbed of a combine invite after catching 71 passes for 1,392 yards and 14 touchdowns, posting 2.98 yards per route run (fifth-best in class).
Round 3 (65th and 77th overall)
Kaufusi played five-tech at BYU in their 3-4 defense and dominated, grading as the sixth-best interior defender in the 2016 class. Kaufusi wins with a quick first step to go with arguably the best hands of any defensive lineman in this class. He led all 3-4 DEs with a 13.2 pass-rushing productivity, and his 12.1 run-stop percentage was second-best.
Murphy would fill a need left by the departed Mitchell Schwartz. The former Cardinal standout graded as the seventh-best OT in this class, and is a better run-blocker than pass-protector.
Schobert isn’t going to “wow” with athleticism, but what he does have is an uncanny ability to beat offensive tackles. Schobert does a great job reading the tackle’s footwork and body position, and then make a move that beats him. With the top pass-rushing productivity of any edge defender in 2015 (22.7), Schobert recorded 52 total pressures on just 182 pass rush snaps.
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