Browns mock draft 3.0: Why not a linebacker?

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.

The shelf life of mock draft 3.0 is three days. It becomes obsolete when Free Agent Frenzy takes off.

Free agents can begin negotiating with teams on Monday. Technically, they can’t sign contracts until Wednesday. But the first teams out of the blocks on Monday usually set the tempo for the largest contracts.

That first wave of signings usually has the biggest impact on mock drafts because teams that participate in big-game hunting address their major needs in free agency and use the draft to address what holes remain.

That’s true of the majority of teams, but the top 10 of the draft might not be affected that much by free agency.

It’s possible that some trades may be consummated this week that will affect the order of the draft.

Once the dust settles from the first wave of free agency, we will do at least one mock draft with trades. That will be crazy.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

Can Urban Meyer win with his QB playing from the pocket?

Last time: Lawrence.

2. New York Jets: QB Zach Wilson, Brigham Young

Has a variety of deliveries, but not the arm strength of Pat Mahomes.

Last time: Wilson.

3. Miami Dolphins: WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU

Best receiver in the draft.

Last time: Chase.

4. Atlanta Falcons: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida

Once-in-a-decade tight end wins out over risky QB pick.

Last time: Pitts.

5. Cincinnati Bengals: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon

Adding best tackle with best guard in free agency seems prudent.

Last time: Sewell.

6. Philadelphia Eagles: WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama

Had 17 catches of 30 yards or more in 2020.

Last time: Smith.

7. Detroit Lions: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State

Opted out and preserved top linebacker in draft status.

Last time: Parsons.

8. Carolina Panthers: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State

Could Joe Burrows college OC Joe Brady expand Fields’ game in the NFL?

Last time: Fields.

9. Denver Broncos: CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama

Pedigree and Nick Saban training give him the edge.

Last time: Caleb Farley.

10. Dallas Cowboys: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech

They’ll take which cornerback Denver leaves them.

Last time: Surtain.

11.New York Giants: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

Last time: Waddle.

12.San Francisco 49ers: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina

Last time: Rashawn Slater.

13.Los Angeles Chargers: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern

Last time: Christian Darrisaw.

14.Minnesota Vikings: DE Jaelen Phillips, Miami

Last time: Gregory Rousseau.

15:New England Patriots: QB Mac Jones, Alabama

Last time: Jones.

16.Arizona Cardinals: CB Greg Newsome, Northwestern

Last time: Alijah Vera-Tucker.

17.Las Vegas Raiders: DE Gregory Rousseau, Miami

Last time: Kwity Paye.

18.Miami Dolphins: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame.

Last time: Owusu-Koramoah.

19.Washington Football Team: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech

Last time: Trey Lance.

20.Chicago Bears: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State

Last time: Jenkins.

21.Indianapolis Colts: OG Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC

Last time: Jayson Oweh.

22.Tennessee Titans: DE Joe Tryon, Washington

Last time: Azeez Ojulari.

23.New York Jets: DE Jayson Oweh, Penn State

Last time: Najee Harris.

24.Pittsburgh Steelers: OT-OG Jalen Mayfield, Michigan

Last time: Mayfield.

25.Jacksonville Jaguars: S Trevon Moehrig, Texas Christian

Last time: Moehrig.

26. Cleveland Browns: LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa

This hinges on signing a starting defensive end in free agency.

Last time: Phillips.

27.Baltimore Ravens: OT Alex Leatherwood, Alabama

Last time: Leatherwood.

28.New Orleans Saints: WR Karius Toney, Florida

Last time: Toney.

29.Green Bay Packers: DT Christian Barmore, Alabama

Last time: Barmore.

30.Buffalo Bills: DT Levi Onwuzurike, Washington

Last time: Collins.

31.Kansas City Chiefs: OG Landon Dickerson, Alabama

Last time: Dickerson.

32.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DT Osa Odighizuwa, UCLA

Last time: Nick Bolton.