The Cleveland Browns are not in an enviable situation. Their first-round quarterback from last year is in rehab following a disastrous rookie season. Star wide receiver Josh Gordon will be suspended all of next season after yet another off-field mistake. Tight end Jordan Cameron is almost a lock to leave via free agency next month. The Browns are in desperate need for some offensive firepower.
But with two first-round picks (Nos. 12 and 19), the team has the proper ammunition to address those glaring needs.
"The Browns had an opportunity to draft any of a handful of terrific receivers in last year's class and chose against it. Don't expect them to take a pass this season," Tom Reed of Cleveland.com wrote.
"Alabama's Amari Cooper might be gone by the time the Browns pick at No. 12. West Virginia's Kevin White and Louisville's DeVante Parker - both 6-foot-3 - could be available.
The Browns also will be interested to see what kind of 40-time Arizona State's Jaelen Strong (6-3, 215) runs. Central Florida's Breshad Perriman is an intriguing prospect in the second or third down."
If Cleveland wants Johnny Manziel to succeed, they are going to have to provide him with some weapons. A quarterback's development is tied in many ways to the talent around him. So it's not a surprise that Cleveland is interested in several pass-catchers this offseason.
ESPN NFL Draft Insider Mel Kiper Jr. projects the Browns to select Parker in his Mock Draft 2.0.
"I've said before the Browns had one of the strangest, yet really good drafts in recent memory with their 2014 class," Kiper wrote. "They have a total question mark when it comes to their first two picks (Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel), but not only did they add an extra first-round pick for 2015, they nailed pretty much every pick beyond that first round. What they didn't do was get a high-upside talent at wide receiver, and Parker has as high a ceiling as you can find in this class. He can beat defenders to the ball with his size, leaping ability and catch radius, and he's underrated as a threat to add yards after the catch on short throws. With Josh Gordon potentially done in Cleveland - at a minimum he's gone for 2015 - Parker looks like a no-brainer here."
