While many other 2011 NFL Mock Drafts have progressed their way from the Browns taking a WR to a DE and back again to a WR in the final mocks before the first pick is announced, SB Nation draft guru Brian Galliford has the Browns sticking with a defensive player in UNC defensive end Robert Quinn.
Quinn has been a trendy pick for Cleveland for the last few weeks. They worked him out, and despite him missing the entire 2011 season, the Browns are very high on his upside and physical tools. Via Galliford:
6. Cleveland Browns: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina. Green or Peterson will go here if available; if not, it's imperative that the team get Dick Jauron a defensive building block. Quinn barely trumps Nick Fairley.
Now, it is important to make note of the fact that Brian does have A.J. Green or Patrick Peterson going to the Browns if they do slip to No. 6, and I fully agree. If LSU's Peterson is available, that would be the steal of the draft. Many draft experts have Peterson as the best player on the board if need is not factored into the conversation. Having him covering the field with Joe Haden will lock down receivers and give whichever defensive players the Browns do have more time to get pressure on the quarterback.
And obviously, the reasoning for taking Georgia's stud receiver is obvious. The Browns need a playmaker desperately, and Green is far too great a talent to pass up.
Mel Kiper still sees Cleveland reaching for Julio Jones, and that's not a horrible idea. The differential between Green and Jones and the rest of the WRs in the draft is striking. At the end of the day, I still believe one of Peterson or Green will be available, and the decision will be easy. There will be DEs who can help immediately in the second round, and I fully expect the Browns to go that route.
And not that it has a direct relation to the draft as a whole, but if the Browns do not take a flier on Plaxico Burress, I will be sorely disappointed.