2019 NFL Draft: Projected First Round after NFL Combine

The Browns will have a tough choice to make with their first round pick if the draft plays out like this. On one hand, they will be tempted to make a luxury selection of a wide receiver to add another dynamic to an already boisterous offense. Baker Mayfield’s former teammate, Marquise Brown, is still on the board. It might be tough to pass on pairing them together once more, and Brown adds the dynamic deep threat that could elevate Cleveland’s offense to another level as they look to challenge for the AFC North next season.

But then there’s Washington All-American cornerback Byron Murphy, who might be a Top 10 talent in this class. Some think Murphy is every bit as good as LSU’s Greedy Williams; some think he is even better.

As a redshirt sophomore in Seattle, Murphy turned in an excellent campaign that illustrated his coverage skills. He’s outstanding playing the ball in the air and has shown a propensity for ball-hawking that could be cultivated early on in his NFL career.

Denzel Ward looks like a future star at corner for the Browns, but they need improvement on the other side of the field. Even with Ward putting together a strong rookie season, Cleveland finished the season ranked 25th in passing defense. Murphy could team with Ward and give the Browns a pair of lockdown corners on either side of the field, potentially vaulting an up-and-coming defense into a Top 10 overall unit. They were close already last year, despite the struggles to defend the pass, finishing 12th in defensive DVOA.

I’d say the pick comes down to Brown and Murphy, although Florida offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor could also be tempting. I think with the depth of this wide receiver class, the Browns are more likely to find an impact receiver on day two than they are to find a cornerback anywhere close to Murphy’s ability after this pick.