It’s draft week, and the Cleveland Browns will soon find themselves on the clock.
Ever since the clock struck zero in Kansas City, fans of the Browns have been plotting how to improve enough to dethrone Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the AFC.
It’s been an unusual offseason for mock draft fans, because the Browns never pick this low (26th overall) and telling who will be available is truly impossible. That doesn’t mean we won’t try, though!
There’s positions of need such as corner, while others are advocating for an extra pass rusher to come off the edge. The offensive oriented are clamoring for a wide receiver.
The Browns could truly go in any of these directions, or heck, they could even trade up using some of their nine draft picks to move up the board to get their desired player.
One thing’s for sure, draft night can be crazy ,so here’s three potential surprises the Browns could make in the first round.
1. Cleveland Browns surprise pick: Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
Why it’s a surprise: Kentucky middle linebacker Jamin Davis plays linebacker and from what’s being reported, Cleveland is doing its darnedest to strengthen the defensive line and secondary, with an eye on playing just two linebackers.
With that being the case, why spend a first-round pick on position that’s been devalued, especially when drafted players like Sione Takitaki and Jacob Phillips look ready to play more snaps after breaking into the NFL as backups.
Why they might do it: When Daniel Jeremiah first mocked Davis to the Browns, it was like, “Huuuuuh?” After reading up on Davis, it became clear why he’s could be a contender. The Kentucky product is fast, like, really fast. Draft guru extraordinaire Mel Kiper wrote how Davis flies to the ball, noting that he “Covers like a safety.”
So the Browns could play with three safeties, and then also field a linebacker who covers like a safety to matchup with superstar tight ends such as Travis Kelce?
This offseason has seen the Browns get notably faster on defense, so with that in mind, Davis can’t be ruled out.
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.
3. Cleveland Browns surprise pick: Eric Stokes, CB
Why it’s a surprise: Georgia’s Eric Stokes has spent mock season not picked in the first round. Only recently has buzz surrounding his name as a first-rounder started popping up.
Interestingly enough, the speculations started on Pro Football Focus, the analytically oriented analytics website.Stokes currently sits 72nd on their big board, the they made the case for his ascension in the draft.
Why it could work: Talk of the Browns trading up to get their corner is en vogue with all the mocks, as it should be. There’s four really good corners and trading up to get the last, Greg Newsome, makes sense.
But if the Browns believe they’d be unearthing a hidden talent in Stokes, well, look no further than the prospect’s pro day as the reason he got picked in the first round.
The NFL world certainly took note when Stokes turned in a 4.34 40 time combined with a 1.5-second flat 10-yard split at the showcase.
Factor in Stokes’ played in the country’s premier football conference, and he should be a candidate, especially if a run on corners commences in the 20s.