Sure, Isaiah Simmons would be nice, but what if Derrick Brown falls to the Browns at No. 10?

Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown (5) stops Alabama State running back Tallesin Farmer.

Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown (5) stops Alabama State running back Tallesin Farmer during a 2018 game.AP

INDIANAPOLIS – Versatile Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons falling to the Browns at No. 10 in the draft is the kind of hypothetical that can make you question the need for a left tackle.

But he’s not the only player worthy of making the Browns think defense at No. 10.

Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year, could be just what the Browns are looking for on their defensive line. In mock drafts, Brown is often slotted at No. 7 to the Panthers or No. 9 to the Jaguars, the first interior defensive lineman off the board.

RELATED: Isaiah Simmons is Mr. Versatility and could be the face of how the NFL is changing

This is what NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote about Brown: “Defensive tackle with rare combination of size and disruptive traits who frequently bludgeoned inferior competition across from him. … He could become a high-impact starter early in his career with an All-Pro ceiling and good starter floor.”

Brown had 17 hurries and five sacks last season while earning Pro Football Focus grades of 90.6 in pass rush and 86.9 in run defense. Also, he’s versatile. Brown saw snaps for the Tigers everywhere from nose tackle to defensive end, not unlike what the Browns have done with Myles Garrett.

“A lot of teams don’t even scout for defensive tackles, they scout for defensive linemen,” Brown said Thursday at the NFL combine. “They want to find guys that can play positions across the board.”

If he falls to the Browns, they would be staring at a player that could help their struggling run defense.

Opponents ran at the interior of the Browns’ defensive line on 65 percent of running plays last season. Only the Steelers, Cardinals and Bills saw more inside runs. The Browns were 22nd in adjusted line yards (4.55 yards per carry) on inside runs, and that helped the defense give up 144.7 rushing yards per game, third-most in the league.

Larry Ogunjobi was the weakest link in the middle. His PFF grade vs. the run has gone from 85.0 to 70.8 to 60.2 in his three seasons. Sheldon Richardson, while not at the level he reached early in his career, finished third on the team in tackles and had the highest run defense grade (75.1) among the defensive linemen.

Last season’s front office pursued free-agent defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Mike Daniels after signing Richardson.

Brown measured at 6-4, 326 pounds at the combine. He would be the largest defensive lineman on the Browns, just edging out Eli Ankou.

Despite the size, Brown is known for his explosiveness. Many SEC offensive lineman have said this week at the combine that Brown was the toughest defensive lineman they faced.

“I just try to impose my will on people,” he said.

The Browns might want to consider letting him do it in Cleveland.

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