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BTSC 2012 Community Mock Draft Pick No. 22 — Cleveland Browns Select Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

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The Steelers pick is getting closer and closer, and now we’ve only got to get through the Lions pick (which will be up later today)! Thanks go to _ET_ for Part 2 of his Browns analysis here. Next up: Detroit Lions and they’ll again be represented by JDSpartan.

By the way, take note of the cool little minute-long draft profiles from SBN NFL that are embedded with these picks. It’s been Michael Bean’s personal project to make these videos happen, and let us know what you think of them! -barnerburner-

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While making the 4th pick overall, I listed the Cleveland Browns‘ top needs as WR (which I addressed), RB and QB. Now that I’m back here with the 22nd pick overall, QB/RB are still big needs, but the available talent at those positions do not represent the best value available. QBs Brandon Weedon and Kirk Cousins would be big reaches at this point without bringing a substantial or even minor upgrade on the Browns depth chart. At RB position, Lamar Miller, Doug Martin and David Wilson would fill the void of the departed Peyton Hillis. However, the value available at other positions, plus the chance that one, if not all will be available at the top of the 2nd round (37th overall), makes it easier to pass on them at this point.

That brings us to the next tier of needs the Browns have: RT and pass-rushing DE or OLB. Last year, the Browns tied for 23rd in the league with 32 sacks. Rookie DE Jabaal Sheard lead the team with 8.5 sacks and showed lots of promise. The Browns could use another player to put opposite him, such as Illinois’ Whitney Mercilus or Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw. Combining an outside duo of Sheard and Mercilus/Upshaw with last year’s 1st round pick, DT Phil Taylor (4 sacks), could give the Browns a formidable defensive front for years to come. That was my plan until Jonathan Martin started to fall.

With the 22nd pick in the 2012 BTSC Community Mock Draft, the Cleveland Browns select Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford.

While LT Joe Thomas has been a stud and a stalwart on the Browns OL, the RT position has been a revolving door for injured and/or mediocre players. Currently, journeyman (and that’s being generous) Oniel Cousins is the starting RT. This is due to the release of the oft-injured Tony Pashos at the beginning of the off-season for salary cap reasons. Adding Martin at RT would give the Browns three former 1st-round picks on the OL (the other two being Thomas and C Alex Mack).

Martin has the talent to immediately slot into the RT position from Day 1, while also providing the Browns some flexibility at the LT position should anything ever happen to Thomas. He comes from a pro-style offense at Stanford where he was a three year starter at LT. He was a strong run-blocker who was very durable. His struggles against speed rushers will be lessened on the right side of the line for the Bowns, while his strengths in technique and getting to the 2nd level in run blocking will shine.

This pick, along with Blackmon at #4 and possibly a RB at #37, will be giving McCoy plenty of help on offense. This will either allow him to excel and show he is the QB of the future, or create a nice situation with solid supporting talent for a young QB to be drafted in 2013. As before, I checked with the Big Board at Dawgs By Nature, and Martin is the highest rated player left (I am ignoring the WRs since I already draft Blackmon).

BTSC 2012 Community Mock Draft Picks:

  1. Indianapolis Colts — Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
  2. Washington Redsinks — Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
  3. Minnesota Vikings — Matt Kalil, OT, USC
  4. Cleveland Browns — Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
  5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
  6. St. Louis Rams — Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
  7. Jacksonville Jaguars — Quinton Coples, DE, UNC
  8. Miami Dolphins — Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
  9. Carolina Panthers — Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
  10. Buffalo Bills — Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
  11. Kansas City Chiefs — Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona State
  12. Seattle Seahawks — Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina
  13. Arizona Cardinals — Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
  14. Dallas Cowboys — Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
  15. Philadelphia Eagles — Mark Barron, S, Alabama
  16. New York Jets — Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
  17. Cincinnati Bengals — Cordy Glenn, G/T, Georgia
  18. San Diego Chargers — Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC
  19. Chicago Bears — David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
  20. Tennessee Titans — Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
  21. Cincinnati Bengals — Michael Brockers, DT, LSU


Source: Behind the Steel Curtain