The Cleveland Browns are lacking a first-round pick for the third consecutive year. In a win-now mode for the second consecutive season, the team has augmented most of its key reserve positions with veterans. Despite this, the team does enter this week’s NFL Draft with a few key needs.
Top Five Draft Needs for the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry has traded down each of the last two seasons to augment the team’s draft choice stockpile. Given that, it’s virtually impossible to truly mock a 2024 Cleveland Browns draft, as they might not even pick in the Top 90. Despite this, Berry has managed to find some gems in the last couple of years, including OT Dawand Jones, who made the all-rookie team in his first season as a fourth-round choice. The Browns have Super Bowl aspirations in 2024, and will need to make each pick count to get there.
Defensive Tackle
The Cleveland Browns let defensive tackle Jordan Elliott walk, the classic case of addition by subtraction. Elliott was a third-round choice of the team in the 2020 draft. He showed just enough to convince the coaching staff that he was worthy of field time but never did enough when he got his chance. The Browns wisely resigned a lot of their veteran leadership inside, including Shelby Harris and Mo Hurst. But they’re both over 30, and with the jury still out on 2023 third-round pick Siaki Ika, the team needs some youth. Expect the Cleveland Browns to make a move early.
Edge Rusher
The Cleveland Browns have three top-quality edge rushers in all-world Myles Garrett, Za’Darius Smith, and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo. But like at defensive tackle, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz likes him a big rotation on the defensive front. Also like defensive tackle, this group is starting to get a bit long in the tooth. Given the team’s existing big three, this is less of a pressing need.
Interior Offensive Linemen
The loss of OL Nick Harris is much bigger than most fans and pundits realize. Harris was a top-quality backup who could step in at either guard or center with little drop-off. He also was a pretty solid fullback for a guy that big. While the team has augmented its offensive line reserves on the outside, there’s been no move to immediately replace Harris. Berry once referred to the team’s leadership as “offensive line snobs,” so it would be pretty surprising if they didn’t draft an interior offensive lineman, or even two.
Deep Threat Wide Receiver
The Cleveland Browns signed former Olympian Marquise Goodwin to be their deep threat at wide receiver last season. That experiment went horribly. Goodwin was mostly injured, and when he was on the field, he had as many drops as he did catches. Cleveland did add Jerry Jeudy through trade, and they’re still high on 2023 third-round choice Cedric Tillman despite a quiet rookie campaign. But they’re still light a true speed guy, and quarterback Deshaun Watson likes to throw deep. Cleveland could still look for a veteran, but they will definitely want a pair of young legs to come camp.
Developmental Cornerback
Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson, and Greg Newsome are perhaps the best cornerback trio in the NFL today. But trade rumors continue to swirl around Newsome, who is approaching the end of his rookie deal, while the Cleveland Browns continue to play three card monty with their stretched salary cap. It’s unlikely to see Newsome traded, but that doesn’t mean the Browns still couldn’t use a dime corner who might be ready to step up. Schwartz likes playing with three corners on the field, and the team’s depth beyond the Golden Trio consists mostly of special teamers.
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