This article is part of our NFL Draft Team Needs series.
Team draft picks (seven)
First round (6)
Third round (68)
Fourth round (104)
Fifth round (139)
Fifth round (164)
Sixth round (173)
Seventh round (237)
Note: I fully expect Cleveland to trade back from the sixth pick and acquire at least a second-round pick as a result.
1. Defensive back
T.J. Ward is a fine safety when he's healthy, but he's cornerback-sized and has missed 10 games over the last two years. Usama Young, meanwhile, is also a durability worry at the other safety spot. Cornerback, meanwhile, is a position of rather urgent need, because Buster Skrine isn't a serious starting option opposite Joe Haden.
Potential targets:
First round
Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International
Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
Second round
Matt Elam, S, Florida
Robert Alford, CB, Southeastern Louisiana
Jordan Poyer, CB, Oregon State
Eric Reid, S, LSU
Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State
Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB, Connecticut
B.W. Webb, CB, William & Mary
Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
Third round
J.J. Wilcox, S, Georgia Southern
Leon McFadden, CB, San Diego State
D.J. Swearinger, S, South Carolina
D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston
Phillip Thomas, S, Fresno State
Shawn Williams, S, Georgia
Terry Hawthorne, CB, Illinois
Darius Slay, CB, Mississippi State
Bacarri Rambo, S, Georgia
Tharold Simon, CB, LSU
David Amerson, CB, North Carolina State
Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers
Team draft picks (seven)
First round (6)
Third round (68)
Fourth round (104)
Fifth round (139)
Fifth round (164)
Sixth round (173)
Seventh round (237)
Note: I fully expect Cleveland to trade back from the sixth pick and acquire at least a second-round pick as a result.
1. Defensive back
T.J. Ward is a fine safety when he's healthy, but he's cornerback-sized and has missed 10 games over the last two years. Usama Young, meanwhile, is also a durability worry at the other safety spot. Cornerback, meanwhile, is a position of rather urgent need, because Buster Skrine isn't a serious starting option opposite Joe Haden.
Potential targets:
First round
Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International
Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
Second round
Matt Elam, S, Florida
Robert Alford, CB, Southeastern Louisiana
Jordan Poyer, CB, Oregon State
Eric Reid, S, LSU
Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State
Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB, Connecticut
B.W. Webb, CB, William & Mary
Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
Third round
J.J. Wilcox, S, Georgia Southern
Leon McFadden, CB, San Diego State
D.J. Swearinger, S, South Carolina
D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston
Phillip Thomas, S, Fresno State
Shawn Williams, S, Georgia
Terry Hawthorne, CB, Illinois
Darius Slay, CB, Mississippi State
Bacarri Rambo, S, Georgia
Tharold Simon, CB, LSU
David Amerson, CB, North Carolina State
Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers
Fourth round
Shamarko Thomas, S, Syracuse
Josh Evans, S, Florida
Duke Williams, S, Nevada
Dwayne Gratz, CB, Connecticut
Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU
T.J. McDonald, S, USC
Tony Jefferson, S, Oklahoma
Will Davis, CB, Utah State
Fifth through seventh rounds
Sanders Commings, CB, Georgia
Earl Wolff, S, North Carolina State
Khalid Wooten, CB, Nevada
Adrian Bushell, CB, Louisville
Rontez Miles, S, California (PA)
Cody Davis, S, Texas Tech
Nickell Robey, CB, USC
2. Quarterback
The team still has an investment in 2012 first-round pick Brandon Weeden, even if the new management regime isn't as much of a fan as the last one, so the Browns might not be especially enthused about the idea of targeting a quarterback in the first round. On the other hand, both Weeden and free agent addition Jason Campbell fail to inspire much faith, so cheaper draft targets in the second and third rounds should very much be in Cleveland's crosshairs.
Potential targets:
First round
Geno Smith, West Virginia
Tyler Wilson, Arkansas (trade back)
E.J. Manuel, Florida State (trade back)
Second round
Tyler Wilson, Arkansas
E.J. Manuel, Florida State
Ryan Nassib, Syracuse
Matt Barkley, USC
Mike Glennon, North Carolina State
Third round
Zac Dysert, Miami (OH)
Tyler Bray, Tennessee
Matt Scott, Arizona
3. Pass catchers
Josh Gordon showed steady glimpses of WR1 potential last year and Greg Little and Travis Benjamin both have likable traits, but the latter two generally don't look like standout talents. Meanwhile, tight end is in significantly worse shape, as 2011 fourth-round pick Jordan Cameron is currently atop the depth chart. Cameron is very athletic and showed some promise in 2012, but tight end is still an area where Cleveland should add talent.
Potential targets:
First round
Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia (trade back)
Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame (trade back)
Second round
Keenan Allen, WR, California
Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford
Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech
Robert Woods, WR, USC
Jordan Reed, TE, Florida
Markus Wheaton, WR, Oregon State
Third round
Dion Sims, TE, Michigan State
Travis Kelce, TE, Cincinnati
Chris Harper, WR, Kansas State
Josh Boyce, WR, TCU
Kenny Stills, WR, Oklahoma
Gavin Escobar, TE, San Diego State
Da'Rick Rogers, WR, Tennessee Tech
Marquise Goodwin, WR, Texas
Vance McDonald, TE, Rice
Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor
Fourth round
Levine Toilolo, TE, Stanford
Mark Harrison, WR, Rutgers
Nick Kasa, TE, Colorado
Chris Gragg, TE, Colorado
Tavarres King, WR, Georgia
Fifth through seventh rounds
Chad Bumphis, WR, Mississippi State
Ryan Otten, TE, San Jose State
Zach Sudfeld, TE, Nevada
Mychal Rivera, TE, Tennessee
Matt Furstenburg, TE, Maryland
Justin Brown, WR, Oklahoma
Corey Fuller, WR, Virginia Tech
Luke Willson, TE, Rice
Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
Uzoma Nwachukwu, WR, Texas A&M
Other needs: OLB depth, guard, backup running back
