The Cleveland Browns would’ve taken WR at No. 44 in the 2022 NFL Draft

The Cleveland Browns were eyeing a WR at No. 44 in the 2022 NFL Draft

The Cleveland Browns got a lot of flack for their draft-day trade out of the second round. The team had the 44th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and was poised to pick a receiver. Yet, instead of taking one that was there like Alec Pierce or Skyy Moore, the team traded down and took a cornerback instead. While they got some mid-round picks, they needed a top-flight receiver, which they did not get.  Apparently, the only name they were considering at the pick was John Metchie III, who actually was drafted there by the Houston Texans.

The Texans took to the wide receiver after a trade with the Browns, who moved back to pick No. 68 in the draft while picking up picks No. 108 and No. 124 instead. Those picks became DT Perrion Winfrey and K Cade York.

According to Mary Kay Cabot, had the Browns not traded with the Texans, they would’ve taken the same player.

"The Browns had their eye on a number of players at No. 44, and would’ve drafted Alabama receiver John Metchie III if they had stayed put instead of trading down with the Texans. Instead, they moved back to No. 68 in the third round, and picked up two extra selections in the fourth round, No. 108 and No. 124. Instead of Metchie, whom the Texans grabbed at No. 44, they wound up with Mississippi State cornerback Martin Emerson at 68, Oklahoma defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey at 108, and LSU kicker Cade York at No. 124.The Browns coveted other players who were off the board at No. 44. One was Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon, who went to the Bears at No. 39, and another was Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth Jr., who went to the Vikings at No. 42 after they traded up from No. 46 to grab him.With the Browns trading six picks to the Texans for Watson — including three first-rounders, a third and two fourths, they opted to replenish picks unless they had a slam-dunk prospect like Gordon coming their way."

The Browns were always thinking of cornerback before the trade

The thing that worries me about this franchise, beyond the obvious, is the almost obsessive desire to draft a cornerback first in this draft. The team didn’t have any holes at the position. In fact, they still don’t and that’s without Troy Hill. It’s still among the deeper groups on the team and that’s without the rookie Martin Emerson being included.

The team needed help at receiver, defensive end, and defensive tackle. Yet, all three of those positions took a backseat to corner.

Why? That’s a baffling decision, honestly.

There’s always another draft next year, and you draft to fill holes this year, not next. The Browns don’t have holes at corners, and there was no reason to think they couldn’t find a corner next year should the team move on from Greedy Williams, who’s on the last year of his deal and is likely to not be retained.

The Browns should’ve targeted another position instead of wasting it on a corner.