Browns Draft: Two mocks both have Cleveland taking defensive tackle

Two different mock drafts have the Browns taking a defensive tackle.

Whoever the Browns take at the number 26th spot in Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft will probably have half the city upset and the other half rejoicing. Hence is the modern sports climate. Most people have their own opinions on who Cleveland should take and guess what, they wall want different players. So they should all find it amusing that the NFL and CBS mock drafts both have the Browns taking a defensive tackle at 26, but not the same tackle.

NFL.com has the Browns selecting Levi Onwuzurike from Washington. Odd pick, since the consensus top defensive tackle prospect Christian Barmore is still available. In fact, Barmore doesn’t get picked until the third round. Strange.

The CBS mock, however, has the Browns taking Barmore at their pick in the first round. A more conventional pick but still perhaps not the right one.

What should the Browns do in the 2021 NFL Draft?

The big question is where does Cleveland go from here. In 2018, it was obvious; quarterback. In 2020, again obvious; offensive tackle. Not since 2017, however, has the Browns faced this much uncertainty with who to take in the first round.

Not only was Cleveland pursuing Myles Garrett, but Mitch Trubisky, Christian McCaffery, and Deshaun Watson were all tossed about. The Browns went with Garrett, obviously, and it looks to be the right move all things considered.

Granted, Patrick Mahomes was in that draft, but no one really saw him as the number one overall pick at the time. More like a project. So Cleveland went with the safest pick; Garrett.

That doesn’t help Cleveland in 2021 though. They need a starter at all three levels of the defense; tackle, linebacker and safety. Cleveland could use some corner depth but considering there are still veterans on the market, plus Stephon Gilmore if Cleveland is so inclined, that’s not as huge of a need.

Anything can happen, even trading up or down in the draft. We’ll know what Andrew Berry and company needed most as soon as the pick is in.