The Superbowl is over and that means it is officially time for mock drafts. The draft is the most exciting time of the offseason and it’s a chance for every team to get better. For now, let’s focus on the Cleveland Browns, and how they can improve the team with young talent. This will be the Cleveland Browns mock draft for all seven rounds and all nine of their picks. The mock is assuming no free agents are signed, and that the Browns do not trade down at all. Neither is likely, but the exercise is fun nevertheless, so let’s get started.
Browns Mock Draft: Day One
1.26 | Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah | LB | Notre Dame
The Browns have a big need at linebacker, and Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah or “JOK” is listed as one of the best linebackers in the draft. While experts debate whether JOK will make it to pick 26 because of his versatility and speed at the position. He has been a hot name mentioned for the team. With all of the talent that is in this draft, Owusu-Koramoah could easily fall here.
While the Browns got some good play out of their young group of linebackers last year, they need to get better, and Owusu-Koarmoah adds versatility, speed, and coverage skills that Cleveland does not have.
Browns Mock Draft: Day Two
2.59 | Elijah Molden | CB |Washington
The Browns need help in the defensive backfield and Washington’s Elijah Molden can play two spots there. Molden has been listed as safety by some and as nickel corner by others. The Browns will most likely lose starting nickel corner, Kevin Johnson to free agency, and will not retain Andrew Sendejo who started most of the games at safety for the Browns.
Molden projects to be an every-down starter for whatever team drafts him and the Browns could use a nickel corner to pair with Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams on the outside. Defensive coordinator Joe Woods used a lot of three safety sets last season and could use Molden as a chess piece for the Browns. If the first two picks this way for the Browns, they could be in a much better spot defensively.
3.90 | Quincy Roche | EDGE | Miami
The third round is where a Browns mock draft could get interesting. The team has two third-round picks and trading down last season and acquiring the New Orleans Saints third for this season. The Browns pick at 88 and 91 and would be in an advantageous position to trade of those picks. Whether they trade it for a player or use it to trade out of their spot, it’s hard to imagine the Browns use both of these picks. That being said, this is a no-trade mock draft and the Browns have to make both picks.
The first of the two picks is at 88 and I think the Browns use it on Miami Hurricane defensive end, Quincy Roche. Roche is a polarizing player, due to his size. At just 245 pounds, with a short wingspan, Roche is an undersized player for his position. While Roche lined up as a defensive end, he lacks the ideal size to play the position at the next level. However, Roche was a productive player in college and possesses elite athleticism that has helped lead to that production.
Based on what I mentioned above, it has been tough to predict where Roche is going to be drafted. He has the talent and production to be a top 64 pick, but due to his size, many expect him to fall a bit. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where he goes, as some have him going in the early 50s, and others see him in the fourth round. The Browns could get a steal at pick 88.
3.92 | Hamsah Nasrildeen | S | FSU
At 92, this is the pick in the Browns mock draft that I would have liked to trade, but in order to keep it interesting, I’ll pick a player. This pick is going to be former Florida State safety, Hamsah Nasrildeen. Nasrildeen is a versatile defensive player and can play at both safety spots, and at nickel corner, and probably even at linebacker. Many project Nasrildeen to be a positionless chesspiece on any defense and the Browns need to get defensive talent anywhere they can. And this pick gives them a player who can play anywhere. He probably won’t be a starter, but the role he could play could be crucial moving forward.
Browns Mock Draft: Day Three
4.101 | Darius Stills | IDL | West Virginia
This former West Virginia defensive tackle does not project as an immediate starter, but with this athleticism, smarts, and overall effort, he can be a rotational piece. He is raw and doesn’t have ideal length. The Browns need to continue to add depth on the defensive line, though, and Stills would be a nice player to draft and develop for the future.
4.123 | Dazz Newsome | WR | UNC
Wide Receiver Dazz Newsome is an intriguing player, he is fast, explosive, and has the ability to be a big-play threat for the Browns. He adds great return ability and gives the team a good boost of speed at the position. He does not provide a “size” element to his game at just 5’11” and 190 lbs but plays bigger than those numbers suggest.
5.153 | Cordell Volson | OT | NDSU
At this point in the Browns mock draft, we look more at depth and grab players who are lesser-known. These two picks give the Browns some depth along both lines. The fifth-rounder in this scenario is Cordell Volson. Volson is a developmental offensive tackle who could add cheap depth in that spot and has a chance to develop into a third tackle. Volson is from a “small” school, but one that regularly competed for championships both on the conference and national level.
6.187 | Shaka Toney | DE | Penn State
Toney is an athletic pass rusher and would add more cheap rotation on the d-line. Toney lacks strength but he is very quick and agile and can get to the passer from the interior. This addition will bring in more competition for Porter Gustin, and Adrian Clayborn, neither of whom played well in 2020. Even if Toney does not come in and win the job, his motor will rub off on his teammates and make the best of them. That is the type of infectious work ethic that Toney has.
7.222 | Javian Hawkins | RB | Louisville
We have reached the final pick in the Browns mock draft. This seventh-round pick formally belonged to the Buffalo Bills, who then sent it to Cleveland along with breakout guard Wyatt Teller, so this pick does have a little significance. The Browns take a chance here and, select Louisville running back Javian Hawkins. Hawkins is an undersized running back with blazing speed. He would be the fourth back for Cleveland and brings something no other back in the room does.
He might the Brown’s fastest offensive player and would maybe see use as a gadget player. Due to his size, and lack of true running back skills, he would need to show that speed and prove to the Browns he can truly change the game with it before coming off of special teams and into the offense.
Browns Mock Draft Recap
As this 2021 Cleveland Browns mock draft officially comes to an end, it is easy to see how it can be a successful April for Cleveland. As I mentioned before, the Browns probably don’t make all nine of these picks and the trade market will be huge for them. However, if they do plan to make all nine, I think leaning on the defense would make sense. The Browns, in this case, get six players on defense and just three on offense. That is just what they need in order to take the next step from playoff contenders to Super Bowl contenders.
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