The Cleveland Browns possess the second pick in Thursday's draft, and while the team and I appear to be leaning towards the unique talents of Colorado wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, there is one other player that I would be happy with should Andrew Berry decide to pass over Hunter.
Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter is the one player that the Browns could select rather than Travis Hunter, and I wouldn't be disappointed.
Carter would be the pass rusher opposite Myles Garrett that the team seems to constantly seek and never truly finds.
Carter reminds some of former Penn State standout and current Dallas star Micah Parsons, and if Carter is close to Parsons, the Browns would have a star and a pass rush second to none from their defensive ends.
Cleveland has tried edge rushers/defensive ends in the draft before, and 2023 fourth-round choice Isaiah McGuire showed some signs late last season of perhaps hitting his stride.
I like other edge rushers as well, but it would take some luck to land them in the second round.
I'm a big fan of Marshall's Mike Green, who finished with seventeen sacks and played well against Ohio State, but Green may be off some draft boards due to some off-the-field questions from his time at Virginia.
Green's not the player against the run that Carter is, but as a pure pass rush,r Green may be a bit better than Carter, which says a lot!
Others of note are the Texas A&M duo of Sherman Stewart and Nic Scourton, the Ohio State pair of Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, and the player I like best of the group, Mykel Williams of Georgia.
In the late rounds, I was impressed with what I've seen from R.J. Oben of Notre Dame.
The Browns signed Maliek Collins to replace Dalvin Tomlinson at defensive tackle and the team hopes to have 2024 second round pick Michael Hall ready for the season after a late season knee injury.
Tyliek Willianns of Ohio State was more impressive in his career than Michael Hall had been, and his physical assets would make him a great addition.
Oregon's Derrick Harmon impressed me a great deal last season, as did Michigan's Kenneth Grant, who started beside the best DT in this draft, Mason Graham.
South Carolina's T.J. Sanders is in this class, and in the late rounds, I'd consider Howard Cross III of Notre Dame.
The Browns linebacker corps has a huge question with last season's breakout star Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah extremely doubtful to start the season with a neck injury suffered last year, and he may miss the entire season.
Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush both return after solid seasons and Jerome Baker, an excellent tackler, was signed in free agency.
My favorite linebacker is Jalon Walker of Georgia, who reminds me a bit of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
Walker could be available with the first pick of the second round, and despite other needs, I would have problems passing over him in that scenario.
I'd love to see Ohio State's Cody Simon as a day three pick who could develop as an inside linebacker and special-teams helper.
The cornerback position looked better entering last season than they do now.
Denzel Ward is a top notch corner but has struggled with concussions, Martin Emerson took a big step back last season, and rumors have been flying that Greg Newsome could be traded during the draft.
Travis Hunter would help this group if he were picked, and maybe the Browns could wait until the late rounds to add a new player to the group.
Hunter is my top cornerback with Michigan's Will Johnson and Texas's Jahdae Barron behind him.
Jacob Parrish of Kansas State has the type of athletic ability to start in the league, and in the middle rounds would be a great pick.
The Ohio State pair of Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock has day three appeal with Burke as a strong special-teams player.
Grant Delpit is entrenched at strong safety, but Cleveland has swung and missed twice with veteran free agents at free safety (John Johnson and Juan Thornhill), so they could go after a young safety in what appears to be a strong class.
Makali Starks of Georgia is the best of the bunch but is out of the Browns reach barring a trade.
Notre Dame's Xavier Watts intercepted thirteen passes in two seasons and brings the ball skills that Cleveland safeties never seem to have.
Iowa's Sebastian Castro, Ohio State's Lathan Ransom, and Penn State's Kevin Bowman are all solid day two players, and Bowman could slide a bit after missing much of the 2024 season with an injured ACL.
Late round considerations should be given to Penn State's Jaylen Reed, who always seems to be around the football.
Dustin Hopkins struggled at kicker last season, but do the Browns have the stomach to draft another kicker after the failings of Cade York in 2022?
If they do, Arizona's Tyler Loop is the best kicker in the draft.
Corey Bojorquez appears safe as a punter.
The Browns defense looks stronger than the offense entering the draft, but even so, they lack big-play performers other than Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward.
There are plenty of places that need help from this draft, so Andrew Berry has his work cut out for him.
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