Cleveland Browns: 3 potential surprise 1st-round picks to watch

2. Cleveland Browns surprise pick: Elijah Moore

Why it’s a surprise: Even your grandmother thinks the Browns are going defense in Round 1. How could they go with a a WR?

Why they could do it: The Browns window to win is wide open, but with that said, Andrew Berry has to keep one eye toward the future and that means keeping his options open at wide receiver.

Unless some major restructuring occurs, the Browns will have two receives making around $15 million each on the payroll next season. For as much as fans love Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, something is likely to give.

Baker Mayfield’s extension is likely in the pipeline and that means saving at other spots, so it won’t be a surprise to see either Beckham, Lanry, or both, not on the roster in 2022.

If Berry is thinking beyond 2021, then the mock drafts that have the Browns going after Ole’ Miss product Elijah Moore may end up surprising the fan base come Thursday night.

Cleveland has spent the offseason getting faster on defense, but the receiving corps could use a boost, as well and while Moore doesn’t have the size you’d like (5-9 1/2), he has the speed, running a 4.35 40-yard dash at his pro day.

I don’t know if Moore the guy, but the idea of taking a receiver has been growing on me because the Browns aren’t going to stop the Chiefs. They can slow them down, but ultimately, Mayfield and the offense has to be able to trade blows with the Mahomes, Lamar Jacksons and Josh Allens of the AFC.