WalterFootball’s first 2023 NFL Mock draft for the Cleveland Browns
By Chad Porto
WalterFootball’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft is here
The Cleveland Browns are heading into the 2023 NFL Draft with a set of clear and obvious holes to fill, with a lack of high draft picks to fill them with. The team is hoping to find some players who can start for the team from the middle of the draft, a hope that many fans don’t have after looking at past drafts. The team has to score with this draft to some degree, as former drafted players are on the chopping block, while the team’s finances are getting too low to keep spending on free agents.
They may be able to add a few more, inexpensive, free agents, but the Browns have got to optimize the draft better than they’ve done under Andrew Berry. WalterFootball is well aware of the Browns’ needs and has released their mock draft for the NFL through the fifth round. So we’re going to look at what they had the Browns taking from rounds three through five.
"Round 3, Pick 11 (No. 74) Browns: Brandon Joseph-S-Notre Dame The Browns signed Juan Thornhill, but they could still use help at safety. Brandon Joseph is a turnover machine with great instincts."
Brandon Joseph isn’t considered a high-end prospect by PFF. He had a great 2020, scoring 83.4 but PFF then gave him 65.0 in 2021 and 73.4 in 2022. So he’s been up and down as a player. He’s a solid pass defender, posting a 77.1 for that area in 2022, but is at best average against the run, getting a 62.0 in that area.
The Browns need some serious muscle to better stop the run in 2023, and Joseph may not be the best guy for the job. He’s a fine safety but he may be picked a bit high considering who else you would still get at this point in the draft.
Would I Draft Him?: Yes, in the fourth round. He’s an uneven player and doesn’t perform consistently. I’d prioritize Andre Carter III over anyone, and I have receiver at a higher position of need than safety at the moment. I don’t think a mid-round safety is better than the two starters the Browns currently have. I’d go with Andrei Iosivas instead. Both Carter and Iosivas are on the board at this point during the draft. So that’s where I’d go.