Cleveland Browns Draft Review

      I wrote so much over the NFL draft weekend that I took a few days off before I returned here.

However, the Browns review still needs to be posted with my thoughts on how the Browns draft stacked up.

This could be a very short post if I wanted to be succinct- I loved the draft.

Cornerback Greg Newsome in the first round will have a chance to start this season and at worst, will likely be the starter in 2022.

Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is the type of smaller, speedier player that may not have a defined position, but his ability to be moved around the field could make him a three-down player, which is far more important than the term used for where he is in the lineup and to get him for the difference of sending Carolina a third-rounder in return for Carolina's fourth, is absolute theft.

Wide Receiver Anthony Schwartz may have been a slight overdraft, but Schwartz brings elite speed, which might be the fastest in the NFL from day one and his one skill could be very helpful in opening up the field deep.

When the Browns lost Odell Beckham, the Browns lacked a receiver that could stretch the field and force opponents to respect the deep pass, so Schwartz's presence alone could be dividends in that area.

Fourth-round tackle James Hutson should be a depth player for a year or so and hopefully develops after only playing offensive line for two seasons.

Defensive tackle Tommy Togiai should be at least a rotational player and has the potential to eventually be a top-notch interior lineman.

Linebacker Tony Fields will contribute on special teams with his speed and plays very similarly to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, so Fields may be one of those day three players that just forces his way into the lineup somehow.

Big-hitting safety Richard LeCounte was very productive at Georgia, should be a special teamer at least, and I like his chances to beat out Sheldrick Redwine as a backup in the secondary.

Demetric Felton was a UCLA running back, was expected to be a wide receiver, and played in the Senior Bowl at the position, but the Browns announced him as a running back and they could be looking at him as a Darren Sproles Swiss Army Knife type of player.

And to sign a Marvin Wilson, who has top 50 level talent, for the price of a check as an undrafted free agent has the potential to have people around the league not believing that someone didn't take this guy!

The Browns also added an extra fourth-rounder for next year's draft and who knows what they could use that for in 2022.

Part of being a playoff team and one that's expected to make some playoff hay this season is that not all of these players are going to make the team.

And while I'm sure that the Browns would like to slide anyone that they would release onto the practice squad, again when you are a stronger team other teams are more likely to claim the players that you have to waive, so that could come into play with any potential roster spot wars.

Give Andrew Berry and his bunch a lot of credit for this draft- Other than not drafting a defensive end, the Browns addressed every major need and minor needs as well.

Excellent job in Berea and I'd be surprised that if anyone thought the Browns didn't do very well with this draft. 

Browns sign Marvin Wilson

    I thought I was finished with the Cleveland Browns draft picks after their selection of UCLA running back Demetric Felton in the sixth round.

The keywords were draft picks because as I followed the draft while watching the Joseph Parker-Dereck Chisora fight, and the name that I continued to look for was Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilson.

I mentioned Wilson as one of my "Persons of Interest" for the Browns at defensive tackle and his 2019 season for the Seminoles was outstanding.

Wilson would have been at least a second or third-rounder in the 2020 draft after his 2019 campaign, but he didn't play as well in the shortened 2020 season after new coach Mike Norvell installed a different scheme at Florida State and Wilson fell down the draft boards.

Still, I figured Wilson would go somewhere on day three and even to the Browns, but the drafting of Ohio State defensive tackle Tommy Togiai in the fourth round made me believe that the Browns wouldn't select Wilson after Togiai.

The Browns dealt their seventh-round pick to Detroit in an earlier trade that landed Cleveland the Lions fifth and Detroit's 2022 fourth, so the Browns were finished after the sixth round, but like me, the Browns were keeping their eye on Wilson and when the draft ended, Andrew Berry acted swiftly to get the Browns involved in what was described as a "bidding war" for Wilson by Brad Ward for USA Today.

Cleveland would win that war by giving Wilson a $162,000 contract guarantee and a $ 30,000 signing bonus to add the 6'5 300-pound defensive tackle to their rotation.

Wilson may wind up making more money than sixth-round selection Demetric Felton, as the Browns had to pay up and quickly to land Wilson.

Wilson won financially by not being drafted as the Browns would have likely picked him had they retained a seventh-round choice.

Wilson is strong, difficult to stand up, good against the run, and is a solid pass rusher for a defensive tackle, but the bonus that comes with Wilson is his kick blocking ability.

Wilson blocked three last season and having a lineman with that skill is a rarely found bonus.

Remember the Browns claiming Vincent Taylor off waivers last season after the final cutdown with his kick blocking prowess as one of the reasons and Taylor did block an extra point last season.

Taylor signed with the Houston Texans in the off-season, so Wilson may have a leg up as he competes for a job in a tackle rotation with veterans Malik Jackson and Andrew Billings, 2020 third-rounder Jordan Elliott, and Tommy Togiai.

I didn't plan on another post on a Browns rookie, but I also didn't expect them to land a player such as Marvin Wilson after the draft had completed! 

Browns select Demetric Felton

  The Cleveland Browns completed their draft with their sixth-round selection of running back Demetric Felton from UCLA.

Felton averaged 111 rushing yards in his six games in 2020 for the Bruins, including a 206-yard explosion against Arizona.

Felton can catch the ball out of the backfield, catching 22 passes for 159 yards and three touchdowns, but he can also catch the ball on the outside as he played wide receiver at the Senior Bowl.

Felton was rated by most as a wide receiver entering the draft, but the Browns announced the pick with Felton as a running back, so Cleveland must be planning on trying him there or maybe as a jack of all trades type that sees Felton possibly used at either position depending on the situation.

Felton also returns kicks which add to his chances of making the roster.

Felton will likely have to beat out D'Earnest Johnson at running back or it's also possible he could take JoJo Natson's spot as kick returner, slot receiver, gadget play guy as well.

Felton is a smallish (5'8) receiver that wasn't changed to running back until the arrival of Chip Kelly at Westwood and could be an eventual fit in the slot.

Dane Brugler was impressed by Felton's play at the Senior Bowl, considering his lack of reps at receiver, but Cleveland must have different plans for the former Bruin.

I'll have a review of the draft over the next day or two and later tonight, I'll have the boxing challenge from the road office. 

Browns select Richard LeCounte

 Sometimes in the draft, there are productive college players that for one reason or another are downgraded by draft analysts and slip through the cracks of the draft.

Driving to the road office last night, I was listening to the draft and one of the NFL radio guys mentioned one of these players in safety Richard LeCounte of Georgia.

Georgia defensive backs were taken in the first round (Eric Stokes to Green Bay) and the second (Tyson Campbell to Jacksonville), but LeCounte was mentioned as a player that was just as productive for the Bulldogs, yet wasn't as highly rated.

The Browns took LeCounte and added him to their safety room and the 5'10 three-year starter at Georgia may have been added for his special team skills, which have been noted by several sources.

LeCounte is noted for his aggressiveness that can be sometimes a detriment in making the tackle, and his 40 time wasn't great and likely cost him in the draft.

But LeCounte plays faster than his time in the forty and he's been highly recommended by the Georgia program as the type of leader that draws players to him.

LeCounte is a very interesting selection for the fifth round and I would not surprised to see him make the Browns ahead of Sheldrick Redwine for one.

I'll be adding more on the Browns sixth-round pick tonight from the road office.

Browns select Tony Fields

 The Cleveland Browns used the first of their two fifth-rounders on a very interesting player in Tony Fields, a linebacker from West Virginia.

Fields started his career at Arizona and finished with a final year at West Virginia as a graduate transfer.

Fields racked up strong tackle numbers as a linebacker that runs to the ballcarrier and has been compared to the Browns second-round pick Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in his style of play.

Fields is 6'2, but only 222 pounds with more of a rangy build than a prototype linebacker.

Dane Brugler rated Fields as a 4th or 5th rounder that will need to play in space due to his size as larger blockers can push him away from the play.

Fields speed should help him play on coverage teams and this could be a pick that puts pressure on Mack Wilson to make the roster.

I just don't see the Browns keeping seven linebackers with Anthony Walker from free agency, Jacob Phillips, Malcolm Smith, and Sione Takitaki returning, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Fields drafted, and then Wilson.

I'm a Mack Wilson fan, but I may like him more than the front office does.

It'll be interesting to see how the linebacker situation plays out in Berea.

Browns select Tommy Togiai

    Ohio State defensive tackle Tommy Togiai was a player that I was hoping the Browns could land coming into the draft and especially entering day three.

I was a little disappointed that the Browns didn't take Togiai with their first pick in the fourth round, not that I was bothered by the selection of James Hudson, but the Browns could use more depth at defensive tackle.

But Togiai's improvement last season at Ohio State and his coming out a year made me think that someone was going to pick up a bargain.

That someone was still the Cleveland Browns, who selected Togiai with their own pick in the fourth round.

The 6'1 294 pounder might have been a day one or early day two pick in 2022, had Togiai returned to Columbus, but his decision to enter the draft may have cost him a few dollars with the upside of coming to a team that needed depth up the middle.

Togiai finished 2020 with three sacks and eight tackles for loss in his only season as a starter and at only 21, Togiai has plenty of room to develop.

Togiai is a powerhouse in the weight room and is a player that never takes a play off.

Togiai does need some work on his pass rush, but I agree with Dane Brugler's evaluation that at worst, Togiai is going to be a high effort run stopper, and with work and luck on his pass rush could develop to an upper-echelon defensive tackle.

A real bargain at this point in the draft.

Browns select James Hudson

   The Cleveland Browns had two picks in the early portion of the fourth round and it was assumed that unless no one wanted to trade up that the Browns would not use them both.

That's exactly what happened as after the Browns used the fourth-rounder acquired from the Eagles last season (110) on Cincinnati tackle James Hudson, the Browns swapped the pick added from Carolina last night (112) to the Detroit Lions.

Cleveland received the Lions fifth-round pick at 153 and the Lions fourth-rounder in 2022 for the aforementioned pick and the Browns seventh-rounder at 257, two picks before the final pick of the draft.

This places the Browns with their own pick in round four, two picks in round five ( from the Rams and Lions), and their own pick in the sixth round.

I'm still thinking that Andrew Berry isn't finished and may not use the remaining fourth and the two fifth-rounders.

Moving to James Hudson, a 6'4, 303-pound tackle that played for the Cincinnati Bearcats after transferring from Michigan earlier in his career.

Hudson was recruited as a defensive lineman and after a redshirt season was moved to tackle, but after a few games decided to transfer to Cincinnati.

You may remember the dustup over Hudson's eligibility between Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Cincinnati's Luke Fickell over Michigan's lack of help in getting Hudson a waiver to be immediately eligible with the Bearcats.

Hudson claimed depression issues and the move to tackle, but the waiver was denied by the NCAA.

Hudson must have come around as he played tackle for Cincinnati making all-AAC in 2020.

Hudson is a bit unrefined as he has played only fourteen games at offensive line, but Dane Brugler likes his feet and strength, although he has shorter arms than most tackles which can be a liability.

Hudson had a third-round grade from Brugler, so early fourth isn't extremely far off and the Browns build their depth in the event Chris Hubbard isn't fully recovered from his late-season injury, so this selection makes a lot of sense.

I've worked all night and other than a short nap, I'm pushing myself to get through the draft.

As long as I'm up, I'll be writing about the newest Browns.

Browns select Anthony Schwartz

   The Cleveland Browns offense hasn't been in question entering the 2021 draft, but the one hole in the offense was that the Browns lacked a fast receiver that could get deep or be used in different ways with the ball in his hands.

The Browns attempted to solve that in the third round with the pick acquired from New Orleans at number 91 in Auburn wide receiver Anthony Schwartz.

Schwartz brings speed and not the type of speed that is usually thought of as fast.

Schwartz is a player with Olympic sprinter type of speed and has been clocked as fast as 4.26 in the 40-yard dash, which gives him the fastest number of all players in the draft.

Schwartz caught 54 passes in 2020 for 636 yards and three touchdowns, one of those a school-record 91-yard touchdown reception.

Schwartz also rushed for over 300 yards in three years at Auburn and seven touchdowns, which shows that Gonzalez can be used on jet sweeps, swing passes (that can count as running plays depending on where the ball was caught).

Schwartz isn't as refined of a receiver as Ole Miss's Elijah Moore or Purdue's Rondale Moore, the two players that I wanted for the Browns (both players were off the board before the Browns second-round pick), but he brings even better speed and can be involved in a similar manner in the offense.

Schwartz was mentioned as having to actually have to slow down into his routes because he was going through things too fast!

Dane Brugler had Schwartz as a fourth-rounder, which isn't so bad considering the third-rounder was one late in the round, says he has the speed to make an impact but has a frame that may not make him a high volume receiver.

For you, fantasy players out there, think of two or three catches for 70 yards and maybe a touchdown type and you'll know how Schwartz projects.

Schwartz could be a player involved in gadget plays in his first year or so and then breaks into the offense, should things go well for him.

Schwartz appears to be a boom or bust pick, but I cannot blame Andrew Berry for attempting to add a home run hitter to the offense.

The Browns now have three fourth-round picks, two of them early in the round, with pick 110 from the Eagles coming fifth in the round, the pick obtained from Carolina on day two at 113, and the Browns own pick at 132.

I would be surprised if the Browns used all of these picks and they might be looking to move one of the early picks for a third-rounder next season.

Cleveland owns picks in rounds five, six, and seven.

Round five is from the Rams at 169 from the Austin Corbett trade.

Round six is their own pick at 211 and Round seven is the pick from the Bills at 257, two picks away from Mr.Irrelevant.

Browns select Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

   I hoped that with some luck one of the four players that I thought would be great fits for the Cleveland Browns in the second round would fall to them, but I didn't think that it was possible.

Wide Receivers Elijah Moore of Ole Miss and Rondale Moore of Purdue were off the board as the Browns pick at 59 began to be in sight, but two linebackers that I really (REALLY) liked were still available in Jabril Cox from LSU and my favorite Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah out of Notre Dame.

As a side note, I was looking up my persons of interest and discovered to my horror that the linebacker section was missing!

I'll be trying to find that and if so, add it to that post with an editor's note.

Andrew Berry decided enough was enough and for the front office that has been rumored as undervaluing linebackers, the Browns decided to strike and trade up from 59 to 52 with the Carolina Panthers to select Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

The cost was reasonable, sending Carolina their third-round pick (89) and getting Carolina's fourth-rounder (113) in return and at the press conference discussing the pick, Paul DePodesta stated that Owusu-Koramoah was heavily considered in the first round when the Browns tabbed cornerback Greg Newsome.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is the type of player that is part of a new wave of defender- hitting hard enough to knockdown backs like a linebacker, yet fast enough to cover receivers out of the slot or tight ends.

At 6'1 and 225 pounds, Owusu-Koramoah brings the type of versatility that will give Cleveland defensive coordinator Joe Woods many options in how he chooses to line him up and choices in execution.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah brings me thoughts of last year's draft when the player that I wanted most was Isaiah Simmons of Clemson, whom the Cardinals selected before Cleveland was on the clock as a player that can do almost anything that you need in today's game.

Dane Brugler had Owusu-Koramoah rated only behind Micah Parsons of Penn State at linebacker, ahead of two players that were picked in the first round (Zaven Collins and Jamin Davis), and rated him as the 15th best player overall in the entire draft.

That is a steal to draft a player that has no injury or character questions at the cost of a third-rounder for a fourth-rounder.

A final note on Owusu-Koramoah (I'll have more in the draft recap), this could be the Browns' answer to Lamar Jackson's running ability out of the pocket.

This is the type of player and athlete that can be used as Jackson's spy and has the speed to run Jackson down and if Owusu-Koramoah can do that- in this division that could mean a division title.

Love the pick, love the aggressive nature of going to get the player that you want, and love the value as well!

The Browns still have a third-rounder at 91, which was a pick obtained from New Orleans during last year's draft, so I will have a report on that player later tonight. 

Browns select Greg Newsome

  Sometimes in the NFL Draft, the best things do come to those who wait and the Cleveland Browns stayed at their spot at 26 in round one and selected a terrific player at their glaring position of need in Northwestern cornerback Greg Newsome.

The 6'1 Newsome wasn't thrown at very often in 2020 by opponents of the Wildcats, but when quarterbacks tried him, Newsome was excellent in breaking up passes as he led the Big Ten in passes defended (nine break-up attempts and one interception) and allowed only one touchdown in his final two seasons in Evanston.

Newsome is a man-to-man cover corner that is known as a good tackler and has good ball skills other than the lack of interceptions (his one in 2020 was his only career interception), there isn't a knock on his game on the field.

This leads us to the one legitimate knock that is fair against Newsome.

Newsome missed three games in each of his three seasons in the Big Ten and there is the only concern with Newsome- Can he stay on the field consistently?

Denzel Ward hasn't played a full season yet and Greedy Williams missed an entire season, so the Browns already have talented young cornerbacks that have durability concerns and Newsome will now be bringing his own injury background.

Newsome will be challenging Williams for a starting position and at worst, Newsome will see plenty of playing time.

Cleveland currently holds three picks on tonight's day two of the draft- their own second (59th overall) and third-rounders (89th overall) and the New Orleans Saints third-rounder (91) obtained during last year's draft. 

Cleveland Browns Persons of Interest: Defensive Front Seven

 The Cleveland Browns defense still needs more help on the front seven even after signing Jadeveon Clowney at defensive end, Malik Jackson at defensive tackle, and Anthony Walker at linebacker.

The Browns will likely select a defensive lineman in either the first or second round, but the question is which position will they address?

Defensive end seemed to be the clear choice before the signing of Jadeveon Clowney, but between adding Clowney and then releasing Sheldon Richardson to make cap room for the draftees (and Clowney) defensive tackle could also make a lot of sense.

After Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, the Browns only have free agency addition Takk Mckinley, who comes with injury questions, and returning depth players Porter Gustin and Joe Jackson to round out the unit.

The defensive ends come with questions, but Dane Brugler has first-round possible grades on five players at the position.

Georgia's Azeez Ojulari has the speed and athletic ability but isn't as big as you'd like to see and the two pass rushers from the Big Ten in Michigan's Kwity Paye and Penn State's Jayson Oweh are supposed to be pass rushers that didn't sack many quarterbacks in their college career.

Oweh didn't register a sack at all in Penn State's seven games and Paye would finish with only two, although Michigan only played four games.

Paye has terrific athletic ability but needs lots of refinement on his pass rush.

Miami's Jaelan Phillips has first-round ability but has had concussion problems that once forced him to medically retire.

Combine that with an admitted passion for music (remember another Miami bust that loved music more than football in 2018 3rd rounder Chad Thomas?) and despite the upside of Phillips, I would stay away from him unless he would fall to day three, which is unlikely.

I like Washington's Joe Tryon's (pictured) size and speed, but he only started for one season with Washington, sat out 2020, and Dane Brugler's comment of a "work in progress" seems dead-on.

Tryon is rated as one of the draft's biggest "Boom or Bust" questions, but physically he looks the part.

As does, Miami's Gregory Rousseau, who may have been a top fifteen pick had he entered the 2020 draft after finishing with 15.5 sacks in 2019 in his first year as a starter for the Hurricanes.

Like Tryon, Rousseau sat 2020 out and like Tryon (also 6'5) comes with all the physical tools that an end rusher needs, but has some developmental processes to go through to reach his potential.

Should the Browns go for a depth pick on the final day of the draft, I like Iowa's Chauncey Golston, who doesn't pass the looks test and then goes onto the field and produces.

If you want a true player to develop from a day three pick, Florida State's Joshua Kaindoh has the size to eventually start for someone (6'5 260) but will need lots after a somewhat disappointing Seminole career.

This is an especially weak defensive tackle class with Brugler rating only one player with a full first-round grade and only one other with a first/second-round grade.

The Browns will have new starters at defensive tackle after allowing Larry Ogunjobi to leave via free agency to the Bengals and releasing Sheldon Richardson.

Cleveland will be relying heavily on 2020 third-rounder Jordan Elliott, Andrew Billings, who sat out 2020, and free-agent signee Malik Jackson.

If this was a better class, the Browns could go defensive tackle.

But it's not with Alabama's Christian Barmore the best available at the position.

At 6'4 and over 300 pounds, Barmore can be rotated around the line according to situations, but he only started one year at Alabama, so he has not taken as many snaps as you may think.

Barmore will likely go earlier than he should due to the down year at the position,.

Levi Onwuzunke of Washington is the other highly rated DT and yet another sit-out for the 2020 season.

At his best Onwuzunke is an active and athletic tackle that can run down backs, but he needs to add strength and is taller than most defensive tackles used as run-pluggers.

Should the Browns wait until day three, there are two players that I'd be interested in taking.

Florida State's Marvin Wilson played better as a sophomore and junior than as a senior.

Wilson is a natural stopper in the running game, blocked three kicks in 2020 so he could help there and Wilson played for three coaches in four years which likely didn't help his development very much.

Wilson has the tools to be an excellent player but comes with risk if taken earlier than day three.

Tommy Togiai was just starting to come into his own at the end of 2020 for Ohio State and might have been better suited to return to Ohio State.

Still, Togiai at worst will be a rotational player against the run and could evolve into a pass-rushing threat up the middle with work.

Togiai may go in the third round, so Cleveland may have to move to get him then should they want him.

I'll be around tonight to look at the Browns selection in the first round or any potential trades up or even out of the first round. 

Cleveland Browns Persons of Interest: The Secondary

  The Cleveland Browns addressed safety in free agency with the signing of John Johnson from the Rams, but there is still work to be done, especially at cornerback.

The Browns have a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback in Denzel Ward, but the other cornerback has been a problem in finding someone to pair with Ward.

2019 second-rounder Greedy Williams missed all of 2020 due to nerve damage to his shoulder and even though the Browns signed Josh Hill in free agency, Hill is more of a slot corner than an outside cornerback.

IF Greedy Williams is at one hundred percent, the Browns could get away without using one of their first two picks on a corner, but they cannot feel comfortable that Williams is going to be able to take the grind of a now seventeen game season.

So Cleveland will almost certainly take a corner in either round one or round two, but what corner will that be?

Alabama's Patrick Surtain Jr and South Carolina's Jaycee Horn are the top two corners and will almost certainly be unavailable for the Browns.

I was really hoping for Greg Newsome of Northwestern as a corner that was not only talented but could be there at the Browns' 26th pick.

However, Newsome did very well at his pro day and is one of the players that has seen his stock improve as draft day neared, so Newsome may not be available for the Browns.

Newsome is a rugged cover corner that breaks up passes (25 in 21 games) and is a strong tackler that has improved every year at Northwestern.

Newsome's biggest issue is durability as he has missed three games in each of his three seasons and at a time when the NFL is extending their season, durability is a concern.

Virginia Tech's Caleb Farley has all the physical tools to be a top cornerback in the league, but missed 2020 as a Covid-19 opt-out and has had back problems.

Without those injuries, Farley is pushing Surtain as the top corner in this class, but the question that needs to be answered is this-IF Farley starts falling, is that the giveaway that his back problems are worse than expected?

And if Farley falls to them, can the Browns afford to take the risk on another talented, but possibly fragile cornerback?

I like Asante Samuel Jr. of Florida State, who isn't quite as big as the above four mentioned, but is in their class in coverage and could play inside or outside depending on the need.

Washington's Alex Molden's Dad ( Alex Sr) was a first-rounder of the Saints in 1996 and like Samuel is a little undersized, but would be an interesting possibility should the Browns wait until the second round to select their cornerback.

I also love the tools of Georgia's Tyson Campbell, who looks like a day two pick that may be available in the third round.

Maybe it's because I saw him play every week, but so many have gotten down on Ohio State's Shaun Wade after his struggles on the outside corner in 2020 that he could be a day three steal.

Wade has the physical tools to play safety and he might be a player that can be moved around the secondary to suit the situation.

I am also intrigued by Bryan Mills of North Carolina Central, who sat out in 2020 and played just one year at NCC, but his size and speed make me like him as a day three project.

The Browns addressed their safety situation when they signed John Johnson and will have 2020 second rounder Grant Delpit returning to the field after missing last season to go with Ronnie Harrison, who played well after being acquired from Jacksonville.

It's a good thing that the Browns don't need a safety because this isn't a great year to be looking for one as Dane Brugler doesn't think one will go in the first round.

If the Browns decided to take a safety on the third day, I really liked Cincinnati's James Wiggins when I watched the Bearcats.

Wiggins is an aggressive player that could eventually work his way into the lineup and at worst help on special teams.

It's late from the road office and running short on time, but I'm hoping to have time for some persons of interest for the front seven before the draft starts.

Cleveland Browns Persons of Interest: Offensive Players

For the first time that I can remember, the Cleveland Browns do not have glaring needs on one side of the ball and would literally be selecting for depth or for players that aren't an immediate need but could fill a need as soon as the 2022 season.

The two players that I could see the Browns considering on day two of the draft and would suit my hopes for a smaller, quick playmaker at wide receiver.

I really like Purdue's Rondale Moore as a playmaking slot receiver that has the ability to run jet sweeps, shovel passes, and the type of catch-and-go pass catcher that the Browns currently lack.

Moore is only 5'9, but it's not a scrawny 5'9 that makes you wonder how long he'll hold up under NFL pounding as he is a physical player that won't be pushed around.

Moore can also return kicks as well

I also like Ole Miss's Elijah Moore, who is also 5'9, but not quite as strong as his previously mentioned namesake.

Elijah Moore is remembered for the ridiculous "urinating dog" celebration that cost Ole Miss (and coach Matt Luke his job) a win over rival Mississippi State but matured a bit in 2020.

Elijah Moore may be able to play outside or the slot and has the type of versatility that the Browns don't have enough of and with the possibility of either or both Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham not on the roster for 2022, the Browns could take a receiver on day two to learn from Landry before taking a starting spot in 2022...

Should the Browns decide to tab a receiver on the third day of the draft, a few that I like for selections similar to last draft's gamble on Donovan Peoples-Jones are  Trevon Grimes of Florida, who at 6'4 could develop into a possession receiver with red-zone skills, Sage Surratt of Wake Forest, a bigger slot target than either Moore and late in the draft Brennan Eagles of Texas.

Cleveland doesn't appear to need a tight end with Austin Hooper, 2020 draftee Harrison Bryant, and David Njoku on the roster with Stephen Carlson, but Njoku is a free agent after 2021 so Cleveland could prepare for life without him or even if they trade him before the season.

This isn't a top class, but I like athletic Brevin Jordan of Miami, Florida although he is a likely day two pick and durable Hunter Long of Boston College, who Dane Brugler compares to Austin Hooper.

The Browns (like most NFL teams) are always looking for depth along the offensive line.

The Browns took Nick Harris in the fifth round in 2020 and look at him as the long-term replacement for J.C. Tretter, so it's unlikely that they take a center in this draft.

Should the Browns look for one on day three, I like Michal Menet of Penn State or Drew Dalman of Stanford as possibilities.

Cleveland likely wouldn't need a guard with Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller in the lineup, but depth is always looked for on the offensive line.

The two guards I really like aren't likely to be available in the fourth round, but I've seen stranger things happen than players falling to round four, and Wyatt Davis of Ohio State or Jackson Carman of Clemson (especially Carman) might be available early in round four.

The Browns are solid at tackle with Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin, but Chris Hubbard is the top backup and he suffered a knee injury late in the season, so a depth addition for the line is most likely at tackle.

6'8 Tommy Doyle of Miami, Ohio has the type of size and strength to develop into a starter, but his raw ability can be given time to be molded with starters ahead of him of the level of Wills and Conklin.

Marshall's Josh Ball has the size (6'7 308)  and ability to be a day one selection, but Ball was forced to leave Florida State after domestic violence accusations in 2017.

Ball would be risky, but worth considering if his background shows that he learned from his mistake.

The Browns are unlikely to take a running back with Nick Chubb's likely contract extension and Kareem Hunt, who is signed under a very reasonable cap number.

I love Clemson's Travis Etienne, who the Browns don't need at his spot in the draft, and Ohio State's Trey Sermon dazzled in the late-season, but still is unlikely to last deep into day three.

Oklahoma State's Chiba Hubbard was a productive college runner that could be the "best player available" should he fall into the sixth or seventh round.

I also like 5'6 Jaret Patterson of Buffalo, who doesn't look the part but could be a solid situational back.

I always have promoted taking a quarterback every other year to develop or even to trade down the road if everything fell into place for a backup.

When quarterbacks are available on day three, they have questions or flaws that placed them in the third day's selections.

If I'm taking one late, I really like Sam Ehlinger of Texas, who is lauded for his leadership and toughness.

Ehlinger's arm is decent enough, but he hasn't always been the most accurate.

Still, I'd take him in round six or seven and bet he's a guy that will at least be a backup in the league for years.

If I was gambling on physical tools, Felipe Franks of Arkansas is worth considering.

At 6'5, Franks has the tools but will need to show that he can play in offenses that aren't the Briles scheme.

If the Browns don't draft either quarterback, I'd consider either as priority free agents.