Browns: The Athletic’s 7-round mock nets analytics gifts in mid rounds

With the Browns addressing needs in free agency, the 2021 roster is starting to take shape and mock drafts in a post-free agent world better reflect Cleveland’s need.

Plus, with the draft now about a month away, team reporters and scribes are mocking up predictions, with some of them, taking their first crack at mocking the draft.

As the draft nears, it’s still unusual for fans to have their team picking 26th. Usually, we’re all buying the narrative how the current draft “is the most important in franchise history,” as we look for the front office to deliver the next franchise savior.

The truth is, this draft is going to be different in terms of impact on the roster. The Browns are a good team. This class of players isn’t going to produce three starters on a team that won a playoff game and that was a blown helmet hit non-call away from knocking off the Chiefs for a berth in the AFC title game.

The Browns have nine picks later this month, and truthfully, all of those players may not make the roster.

That’s life in the NFL fast lane, though. The Browns are finally good, which means there’s more talent to go around. If you’re a rookie looking to take a job, you better be really, really good.

Anyway, The Athletic’s Zac Jackson took a stab at a 7-round mock (subscription), and because I’ve got mock draft fever, I couldn’t help but to break down his picks, so here we go…