2015 NN community mock draft: The Browns, Eagles, Bengals select ....

The 2015 NN community mock draft is rolling through the back half of the first round with three weeks to go until the real draft. We move on to the Browns, Bengals and Eagles.

Here are the first 18 picks:

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
2. Tennessee Titans - Leonard Williams, DT, USC
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Dante Fowler, Jr., OLB/DE, Florida
4. Oakland Raiders - Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
5. Washington - Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
6. New York Jets - Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
7. Chicago Bears - Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
8. Atlanta Falcons - Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
9. New York Giants - Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
10. St. Louis Rams - Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
11. Minnesota Vikings - Landon Collins, S, Alabama
12. Cleveland Browns - Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
13. New Orleans Saints - Alvin Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
14. Miami Dolphins - DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
15. San Francisco 49ers - La'el Collins, OG, LSU
16. Houston Texans - Arik Armstead, DT, Oregon
17. San Diego Chargers - Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
18. Kansas City Chiefs - Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

With the 19th pick of the NN community mock draft, RutherfordBHayes and the Cleveland Browns select...Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington

Alternates: Maxx Williams, TE Minnesota; Devin Funchess, WR Michigan; Cameron Erving, C, FSU

I had a problem here. When thinking about the draft strategy of the Browns, you know the Browns would've already traded everything to get up into the 2nd pick to get Mariota (or Winston). Because, that's what the Browns do. But, mercifully, since there are no trades in our Mock, I have to actually build a team...!

So, the problem is what do I do as a reasonable GM looking at this team? I already went defense with the first pick at 12 (Shelton). The reasoning there was that a team with the league's worst run defense cannot be competitive. And, even with the additions and moves made this off season, the front seven is still largely dependent on rotation. With the WRs off the board that I would grade as solid #1s, and with the QBs gone, and with the OL returning essentially back to normal, I thought all signs pointed back at the defense.

Shaq Thompson is the pick because of his versatility. He wants to play LB and not RB, fine. But, inside, outside, something in between? All of the above? Great! With Thompson the Brown's essentially cover two major holes in their defense, both of which were in the front seven. In fact, both players drafted, I think, are not only great players, but are the kinds of players that can really elevate those around them. That the Browns run a hybrid 3-4, and rely on heavy rotation, makes Thompson's versatility a key attribute in taking him at the tail end of the top 20.

With the 20th pick of the NN community mock draft, damnesia32 and the Philadelphia Eagles select...Jalen Collins, CB, LSU

Alternates: Marcus Peters, Dorial Green-Beckham

The Eagles are in serious need of solid DB's. Landon Collins would have been the perfect pick here but was taken with the 11th pick in the draft. Jalen Collins is a long press corner who should be the Eagles #1 corner in a tough nfc east. The Eagles gave up a high number of big plays last season and this pick will help.

With the 21st pick of the NN community mock draft, JMichael39 and the Cincinnati Bengals select...Malcom Brown, DT, Texas

Alternates: T.J. Clemmings, Erick Flowers, Andrus Peat

The top three needs of the Bengals right now are Offensive Tackle, a 4-3 Defensive Tackle and a 4-3 Outside Linebacker. They also have slightly lesser needs at Tight End, Slot Receiver and Cornerback.  Of all those, Offensive Tackle is easily their biggest need. They need to either trade for a starter, sign a free agent starter or draft one. Since this draft leaves us no control over whom they sign or trade for, I feel it becomes necessary to choose a player who can step in day one and start at tackle.

With only a couple of the top OL gone at this point, there are some solid options available to fill that position later. But when one of the top DT in the draft is available, you grab him. Brown is a serious run stuffer.  And when he's not stuffing the run, he's eating up blockers, freeing up his inside linebackers to make the tackles. When he's single teamed, he can make serious penetration into the backfield. But he's often double teamed, opening up one on ones for his edge rushers. He's a game changing DT who can make everyone around him better.