The Cleveland Browns time as the host of the NFL Draft is officially in the history books, but with a new class of players knowing their teams, the Internet is already loaded with mock drafts forecasting the 2022 outcome.
Insane? Absolutely. Do we love it? Absolutely. Mock drafts are so popular because they offer hope. Hope that their team will find the player who finally leads them to the promised land.
Now it’s easy to hate on mocks, because so many times, you could look at the position or player mocked to your team and say, “We don’t need that!”
Credit to the writers coming up with these selections, though, as it gives us fodder to debate until we get to the next draft.
So with that said, here’s a look at five prospects who are being mocked to the Browns in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Cleveland Browns take another linebacker?
Pro Football Network believes there will be room for growth at linebacker, even after the trade up and steal of JOK in the second round.
With this in mind, Alabama’s Christian Harris was mocked to the Browns with the 25th pick. The writer cited Harris’ size and “density,” noting he’d be a complement to JOK.
Not sure I see this one playing out, as the Browns considered JOK in the first round and what did they do: Take a corner.
I think the “don’t take a linebacker” in the first round–who doesn’t rush off the edge–philosophy will prevent this selection from becoming a reality.
Pay attention to anyone from Alabama, though. This NFL factory produced six first-round pick sand 10 drafted players overall, tying Ohio State for the all-time record.
Nick Saban probably would’ve had more players picked, if they weren’t underclassmen.
Who’s No. 1: This mock has Liberty quarterback Malik Willis going first overall. You read that right and no, I’ve never heard of him either.
Cleveland Browns don’t have LB ‘Figured out’
What’s going on? Yahoo’s Derrik Klassen mocked Florida linebacker Ventrell Miller to Cleveland with the 26th pick. The author worries about the Browns “inside the box.”
I’d argue this is the least of their worries, which is why it was imperative for the organization to find a linebacker this offseason who could help in coverage.
Second-year veteran Jacob Phillips is expected to see more snaps and his on-field speed was noticeable. Third-year vet Sione Takitaki is best suited as a downfield attacker to blow up the rushing attack.
Factor in the Browns taking JOK and then Tony Fields later in the draft this year, and I just don’t think it’s the priority these writers are making it out to be.
If anything, the Browns will seek to improve their roster by signing veterans to short term deals, much like they’ve done with Anthony Walker and Malcom Smith.
A receiver or an edge rusher would seem to make the most sense a year out from draft day, but obviously, a lot can happen.
Cleveland Browns take a DT?
There’s plenty of reasons to hate on this mock. First of all, I didn’t know Fox Sports was back in the word business following their pivot (Can’t stand that word unless we’re teaching basketball) to video.
Anyway, they’ve got a mock and in it, Alabama defensive tackle D.J. Dale mocked to the Browns at No. 23. Dale earned the starting nose tackle job in Tuscaloosa as a freshman, but has battled injuries according to writer RJ Young.
Never say never, and of course, a lot will depend on how Dale performs throughout the season, but I still think edge rusher will take priority over defensive tackle next season. It’s funny how all these mocks had the Browns going edge in 2021–and they didn’t take them at all. Now, at least these first three mocks don’t have an defensive end anywhere in sight.
For the Browns, there’s been some changes at DT with the team parting ways with Sheldon Richardson. However, they drafted Jordan Elliott late in the 2020 draft and he should be a candidate to play more snaps. They took Ohio State’s Tommy Togiagi 132nd overall last weekend, and he’ll likely follow the same development plan as Elliott.
Ends Takk McKinley and Jadeveon Clowney are only guaranteed to be here for next season, so until we get some answers, I can’t but help that edge is probably the direction Cleveland will go.
WR Time
This NBC Sports mock has the Browns picking 28th and in it picking, Khalil Shakir out of Boise State.
The position certainly has to be in play because no one expects the Browns to pay Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham a combined $30 million in 2022. That said, they could always find a way to restructure.
And if they don’t, the Browns are developing wideouts. Donovan Peoples-Jones had an excellent rookie season considering he was a sixth-round pick. Andrew Berry also picked Auburn’s Anthony Schwartz, a man with Olympic type speed in the third round.
No guarantee Peoples-Jones becomes a star or Schwartz pans out, but at the very least, Cleveland is keeping an eye out on the position.
Cleveland Browns change at TE?
This mock also comes from Fox Sports, but from betting analyst Jason McIntyre.
In it, he has the Browns going with Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert with the 27th pick . The writer noted how nine of his 28 career catches have gone for scores. And if you like traits ,he’s got those too, standing at 6-foot-5, 253-pounds. He is said to have ran a 4.6 40, according to McIntyre.
The Brown seem set at tight end right now, but by the end of the season it could be more realistic. David Njoku is set to hit free agency after the season and Austin Hooper will have just finished the second of his four-year deal.
It’s hard to see Hooper playing all four years here, but the Browns don’t really have an out in his contract until after the 2022 season. For what it’s worth, I’m not looking to get rid of Hooper. He was excellent last season and made the catch of the game in Cleveland’s divisional round loss to Kansas City last season.
That said, you’ve always got to keep one one on the future, so I could buy a tight end here. The Browns really like fourth-round pick Harrison Bryant from a season ago, so he should still be in the mix.