Every NFL Team's 2017 Draft Needs Based on Analytics
Cleveland Browns
Top Needs: QB, WR, ILB, CB
The Passing NEP per drop back that the Cleveland Browns got out of quarterbacks this year ranked 26th in the league. Robert Griffin III and Cody Kessler are not the answer under center. There isn’t a franchise offensive lineman worth the first overall pick, but they also ranked dead last in Sack NEP. While Cleveland’s quarterbacking issues wracked the wide receiver group, if Terrelle Pryor leaves in free agency, there will be a talent vacuum in a group that already produced the 11th-least total Reception NEP.
Still, it seems the defense is in much worse shape than anything else. Cleveland came in 27th in Adjusted Defensive Rushing NEP per play. We also saw just how bad this secondary is without a healthy Joe Haden at cornerback in 2016, as they put up a distant 32nd in Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP per play. The safeties also lagged, but cornerback improvement would take some pressure off of coverage deficiencies deep.
The Browns have so many needs on their roster that they simply need to determine who the best player in the draft is.
