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

1. Gregory Rousseau, DE

Jackson didn’t go through the draft player-by-player, so there’s no way to tell who was available when he mocked Rousseau to the Browns.

Rousseau, a product of Miami, is a defensive end who’s been mocked to the Browns more than few times during the silly season.  That said, I’ve seen him go anywhere from 10-20 a lot. There’s no way to tell where he’ll go until we finally get our answer on draft day.

Rousseau is one of the edge prospects scribes proclaim to have  “all the physical tools,” but like the rest of this year’s class, he’s far from a finished product. Rousseau’s only played one season of college ball, having opted out of the 2020 campaign due to COVId.

Jackson wrote the Browns view the Miami product as “a natural edge rush talent,” so there’s no doubt in his mind that Cleveland would select the 6-foot-7, 265-pound quarterback hunter.

If Rousseau’s the pick, great. I’m not one who thinks Takk McKinley is a long-term solution. However, having McKinley, affords Rousseau to the ability to work his way into more snaps.

It will be interring to see who is available when the Browns pick. Will they take the fifth or sixth best edge rusher and pass the third-rated corner?

Judging by Jackson’s mock, it’s implied that he believes this will be the case. Now, Rousseau being the fifth-rated edge rusher? I’m not sure I buy it.