Each of the past four years we've seen a pick in the top six of the NFL Draft get traded. Three times the Cleveland Browns have been involved with those trades. The Browns are in a position to make the leap again.
Update: Check out our 2015 NFL Draft preview.
If the Browns want to move into the top two picks of the draft, they have better ammunition this year than anyone. Possessing two first-round picks after the Sammy Watkins trade last year, Cleveland could be on the move.
Doing a mock draft is always about making assumptions and letting scenarios unfold. The assumption for this trade is that the Tennessee Titans want to go with Zach Mettenberger next season. That could be the case because they actually like Mettenberger. Or, maybe more likely, they just don't like any of the quarterbacks high in this year's draft. Dropping down and getting Cleveland's two first-round picks would let the Titans theoretically add two starters in the first round. With a roster light on talented players, Tennessee could quickly restock via a trade.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Staying with the same No. 1 pick from last week. Winston to Tampa Bay is starting to become more common than Marcus Mariota. But the the debate about the two will continue to rage on.
2. Cleveland Browns: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
How could the Browns give up on Johnny Manziel after he played about seven quarters? Because the NFL is a fickle business. And because he didn't do anything on the field to stop the Browns from going after another quarterback. It's an especially intriguing scenario if you add in the old rumor from last year that Browns general manager Ray Farmer likes Mariota.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Williams, DT, Southern California
What the Jaguars do at No. 3 will be similar to how the Buccaneers evaluate quarterbacks at No. 1. The Jaguars could have their choice of defensive linemen in Williams and Nebraska's Randy Gregory. Both fit a big need and offer a big impact. Williams rates out as the better player and gets the nod for now.
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
If Williams happens to be in play, he should be the pick. If he's gone, Oakland needs to go with whichever wide receiver the Raiders give the highest grade in the draft.
5. Washington: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Put Scherff opposite Trent Williams and Washington has the bookends to really turn around an offensive line that has struggled. Going offensive line here assumes they add a pass rusher at some point.
6. New York Jets: Randy Gregory, OLB/DE, Nebraska
These last two picks can be interchangeable. Gregory here is the best player available, and the type of pass rusher the Jets have lacked.
7. Chicago Bears: Dante Fowler, DE, Florida
Whether it's on the offensive or defensive line, the Bears need to find a player with this pick who will make an impact. Fowler is a relentless pass rusher the Bears could use in a number of ways.
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NFL Draft
8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
When the Falcons finally hire Dan Quinn to be their head coach, look for him to implement many of the things that make the Seattle Seahawks so dangerous. If you put down the Seahawks' blueprint, Ray would fit the Bruce Irvin role as a pass rushing force up front.
9. New York Giants: La'el Collins, OT, LSU
Collins would give the Giants flexibility. If they want to put Justin Pugh at guard, Collins could come in and start at tackle. Collins is also capable of moving inside to guard where he could show off his brute strength in the run game.
10. St. Louis Rams: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
This continues to be a rough spot for the Rams to be picking. Maybe one of these mocks will have the Rams move off of 10. That's not to say anything negative about Flowers, though. He profiles as a starting left tackle in the NFL.
11. Minnesota Vikings: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Teddy Bridgewater's college teammate at Louisville would be a nice fit for the Vikings. His timing with Bridgewater is already sound so the Vikings would be off and running with Parker in the fold.
12. Tennessee Titans: Vic Beasley, OLB/DE, Clemson
The first of Tennessee's two first-round picks lands them a top pass rusher who can line up at outside linebacker. Beasley may be light, but his first step is incredible. Defensive coordinator Ray Horton would work wonders with a player like Beasley.
13. New Orleans Saints: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
With the Saints likely unable to sign a top free agent like Seattle's Byron Maxwell, going for arguably the best cornerback in the draft will help to fix the secondary.
14. Miami Dolphins: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
Goldman could be brought in to replace Randy Starks and give Miami a defensive lineman who can stop the run and disrupt the pocket on pass plays.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
This is an easy pick to fall back on for San Francisco. White is a good player and would give the 49ers a nice replacement for Michael Crabtree, who is a free agent.
16. Houston Texans: Eric Kendricks, MLB, UCLA
There are bigger inside linebackers this year (Benardrick McKinney) and there are some with better stats (Denzel Perryman). But Kendricks is the top middle linebacker in the draft. He's good in coverage and instinctual. This could be a prime spot for another cornerback if Kareem Jackson leaves in free agency.
17. San Diego Chargers: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
This is a fairly simple pick to make. Shelton is a powerful defensive lineman with the ability to get into the backfield. For the Chargers, he could start at nose and give them a good piece next to Corey Liuget.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
This is another pick that's easy to do. Strong is a starting-caliber wide receiver with the skills to get vertical – up the field and in the air.
19. Tennessee Titans: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
The Titans could continue to add pieces along the offensive line targeting a right tackle like Clemmings. Yes, getting a quarterback in the first round is more fun. But we're going with the assumption the Titans want to roll with Mettenberger.
2 Mock Draft Scenarios
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
It's true, Peters didn't get along with coaches at Washington and was dismissed from the team. It's not true that came after choking a coach. Teams will be spending a lot of time on Peters' character to see if he checks out. If it does, he's the best cornerback in the draft.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Bud Dupree, DE, Kentucky
This is actually a repeat pick from a couple weeks ago. It just fits. Dupree is a good pass rusher who, compared to some drafted higher in this mock, has better length.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Landon Collins, S, Alabama
Collins is a safety who is better at defending the run. But as we saw with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in Green Bay this season, safeties can get better in coverage. Will Collins be Ha Ha or Mark Barron?
23. Detroit Lions: Malcolm Brown, DT, Texas
Every team's fanbase wants to sign Ndamukong Suh this offseason, and so does just about every team's front office. If we assume he leaves Detroit (sorry Lions fans), Brown is a player who teeters between a first- and second-round prospect.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Benardrick McKinney, MLB, Mississippi State
This type of pick would slam the door on Daryl Washington in Arizona. McKinney is an athletic linebacker who is at his best chasing down the ball carrier.
25. Carolina Panthers: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Rinse and repeat. The best offensive tackle available should be the pick for the Panthers. In this scenario it's Peat. With Texas A&M's Cedric Ogbuehi tearing his ACL, the Panthers will have one less option in the first round.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
Green-Beckham is as controversial of a prospect as there is in this draft. He has off-field issues and didn't play a snap this season, but his talent is endless. He made some catches for Missouri that were reminiscent of Randy Moss.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
Phillips was something of a surprise entrant in the draft, but has legit first-round talent. The Cowboys have some good, young interior pass rushers being groomed, but need a big body who can occupy multiple blockers. That's one of the 334-pound Phillips' specialties.
28. Denver Broncos: Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
At this point, Thompson would be too talented of a player to pass up in the draft. He's the type of talent you draft and find a spot, whether that be inside or weakside.
29. Indianapolis Colts: Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
Armstead is a monstrous defensive end with experience playing end in a 3-4 scheme. He could be brought in to give the Colts a physical toughness up front.
30. Green Bay Packers: Ty Sambrailo, OT, Colorado State
Want a player whose draft stock could take off at this week's Senior Bowl? Sambrailo is a prime candidate and could transform himself into a first-round player. If Bryan Bulaga leaves via free agency, Sambrailo could slot in as a rookie.
31. New England Patriots: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
I still love the idea of Bill Belichick breaking the streak of no running backs getting picked in the first round. Gordon should be the first running back drafted after Georgia's Todd Gurley tore his ACL.
32. Seattle Seahawks: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
Starting cornerback Byron Maxwell is a free agent who can cash in big and the Seahawks may not have the money to keep him. If not, a player like Williams has the size and physicality to fit Seattle's system.