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The Cleveland Browns may have a top pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, but they were a much-improved team this past season. They were actually competitive in most of their games last year, and made serious strides on both sides of the ball.
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However, a new ownership led to a new coaching staff, and how good they'll be in 2013 is anybody's guess. All that's known is what their needs are and what needs to improve on both sides of the ball, even if the quarterback position is a question mark despite last season's first round pick at the position.
One thing they do have is a strong defense, and at the top-end of this draft, defensive players are probably the way to go. Dan Kadar of SB Nation released his latest mock draft on Monday and he has the Browns doing just that, taking cornerback Dee Milliner out of Alabama:
If Jordan, Mingo and Moore are gone, the Browns could be left choosing between Georgia's Jarvis Jones and Milliner. Either choice would help the team's defense. Corner Sheldon Brown was routinely beat in coverage, and the Browns could finally be looking for an upgrade opposite Joe Haden. That could bump Brown over to safety, fixing up the team's entire secondary. With the second most free agent money to spend, Cleveland could be hot after Baltimore's Paul Kruger.
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Cleveland will likely be looking for a player to bolster their pass rush at the top-end of the draft, but if things go just the right way for the teams above Cleveland, then they could be left without one of the premier rushes at No. 6.
They already boast a strong passing defense with relatively strong safety play and Joe Haden, one of the league's best corners. Milliner would fit the "best player available" strategy that is generally accepted as the smart path early in the first round, and he'd likely come right in and start opposite Haden to create an elite secondary.