Browns: Tony Grossi mock draft 6.0 forecasts trade up
The Browns aren’t usually one of the teams whose name is thrown around in mentions of trading up in the 2021 NFL Draft, but that’s exactly what ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi predicts.
The long-time scribe has Cleveland pulling off a deal (subscription) with the Titans, in which the Browns send off the No. 26 pick, in addition to pick Nos. 91 pick and 132 to move up four spots, where they would grab South Carolina corner Jaycee Horn with the 22nd pick.
Horn is the player Grossi tapped for the Browns at No. 26 last week.
If anything, fans are expecting the analytically-driven front office to trade down. However, there’s some history of the Browns being active late in the first round.
Back in 2017, when analytics was still steering the ship prior to John Dorsey’s takeover, Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta and then GM Sashi Brown traded the first pick in the second round to move up to No. 29, where they picked David Njoku.
When considering the Browns have nine picks in this year’s draft, perhaps it isn’t all that out of left field to see the team move up to get the player they want. After all, isn’t that why you go to the trouble of stockpiling all of these assets? The Browns are good now. Nine rookies better not make the team.
Plus, while Brown may be gone, Depodesta’s still there and if the data tells him to make the move, he’ll do it.
Other notes from Grossi’s mock draft
1. At No, 26, Tennessee also goes with a corner, taking Northwestern’s Greg Newsome. Obviously, if this were to happen, both players will be watched by their respective fan bases with microscope.
2. By taking Horn at No. 22, Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh was passed by. He went a pick later to the Jets.
3. There aren’t glaring needs on defense right now, as an additional corner and defensive end are both needed. I’m not sure Takk McKinley is the final answer on the edge, while Browns fans don’t yet know if Greedy Williams can physically play.
If the Browns somehow get Jadeveon Clowney, then corner certainly looks like it could be the pick. For what it’s worth, I still don’t understand the fascination with Clowney.
4. Give Grossi credit for predicting the trade up from the 49ers, Just hours after his mock was published, San Fran brought his words to fruition. At No. 3, Justin Fields is the pick and the third quarterback off the board, followed by Trevor Lawrence (No. 1, Jacksonville) and Zach Wilson (No. 2, Jets).
5. In this mock, the Bengals pass on Oregon tackle Penei Sewell to select LSU standout wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. For Chase to be gifted to the Bengals, Grossi mocked North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance to the Broncos with the fifth pick. I could see the Bengals passing on Sewell.
Owner Mike Brown loves skill-position players and he just took a tackle last year.
6. Mack Jones goes eighth to the Panthers, marking the fourth quarterback to be picked.
7. As for corner, the first two off the board are Patrick Surtain, ninth, Falcons, while Caleb Farley goes 10th to the Cowboys.
8. The first edge rusher off the board is Jaelen Phillips (11th, Giants). Gregory Rousseau (14, Vikings) and Kwity Paye (21, Colts) are also off the board by the time the Browns pick at No. 22.