Analyst Mel Kiper Jr.: Receiver A.J. Green could be Browns' pick if QBs are selected early

The Browns are not looking for a quarterback in the first round of the draft, but three teams picking before them and needing quarterbacks could produce a ripple effect on what General Manager Tom Heckert decides, draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said.

Carolina has the first pick in the draft April 28, followed by Denver, Buffalo, Cincinnati and Arizona. In his mock draft released on ESPN.com Wednesday, Kiper has Carolina taking Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert first and the Bengals taking Auburn quarterback Cam Newton fourth.

Kiper has the Browns picking wide receiver A.J. Green from Georgia with the sixth pick. In between Gabbert and Newton, he has the Broncos taking defensive tackle Nick Fairley from Auburn second and the Bills taking defensive tackle Marcell Dareus from Alabama third. The Bills could also use a quarterback.

The way Kiper projects the draft, someone from the group of Fairley, Dareus, defensive end Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson, Green and LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson will be available to the Browns — if the quarterbacks go before the Browns draft.

Kiper in his mock draft describes Green as "a perfect fit. It's hard to imagine the Browns passing on him (especially if they ask Colt McCoy for an opinion)."