The Browns selected LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo with the sixth overall pick of Thursday night’s NFL Draft.

Cleveland has been a potential landing spot for one of the draft’s quarterbacks, but the Browns clearly believed the top 10 was too early for someone like Geno Smith out of West Virginia.

The 6-foot-4 2/8, 241-pound Mingo becomes the third pass-rusher drafted in the first six picks of the draft (Dion Jordan went third overall to the Dolphins and Ezekial Ansah went fifth to the Dolphins), with offensive tackles going with the other three.

WEEI.com will continue to offer daily insight and analysis regarding options that might be available to the Patriots when it comes to the 2013 NFL draft. Here is one is a series of profiles of players who could be on the board when it’s time for the Patriots to make a selection.

Sam Montgomery, here chasing Auburn quarterback Clint Mosely in a 2011 game, is expected to be one of two LSU defensive end prospects to go in the first round. (AP)

SAM MONTGOMERY

Position: Defensive end

School: LSU

Height: 6-foot-4

Weight: 260 pounds

Achievements: 2012 AP All-America third team, 2012 Walter Camp All-America second team, 2011-12 Coaches’ All-SEC first team, 2011 FWAA All-American first team, 2010 Coaches’ Freshman All-SEC

What he brings: Montgomery entered the draft early after two standout seasons with one of the premiere defenses in college football. However, he’s not even the best defensive end prospect from LSU in this year’s draft, with former teammate Barkevious Mingo projected to come off the board within the first 15 selections.

The phrase “high motor” is thrown around a lot when describing “Sonic” Sam, who draws inspiration for his tenacity from the video game character Sonic the Hedgehog. Montgomery, who has experience rushing the passer from a standup position in addition to his work as a 4-3 end while at LSU, shows shows a lot of versatility in his game. Regardless of the team, it’s likely he can be plugged in early on without much concern for a glaring weakness in his game.

The main issue with Montgomery is that, while he’s a prime athletic specimen who excelled at the college level, the upside doesn’t appear to be there the same way it is with some of this draft’s more intriguing prospects.

Montgomery’s 17 sacks over his last two season at LSU certainly are a boon to his draft stock, but the big question for NFL scouts is how he got those sacks and whether or not his defensive skill set matches up well against NFL-level offensive linemen. Montgomery, who has a reputation as a very basic pass-rusher who has a long way to go in terms of developing an arsenal of pass-rush moves, must prove to NFL scouts that he can make the transition.

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