Cleveland Browns: 7-Round Mock Draft brings a new quarterback
By Randy Gurzi
Round 2 (via Philadelphia): Deontay Burnett, WR, USC
Back on the clock near the end of the second round, the Browns add a playmaker at wide receiver in Deontay Burnett out of USC. While he drops to the late second round, Burnett does so due to his size more so than his play.
Listed at 6-0 and 170-pounds, he doesn’t have the big body that NFL teams covet outside, but that’s okay. Cleveland has some weapons at wide receiver — and tight end — that their new starting quarterback can throw to in that role. Not only can Corey Coleman and Josh Gordon play out wide, but so can tight end David Njoku, who flashed his potential as a rookie in 2017.
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Burnett though comes in as a real threat in the slot, which is where he did his best work for the USC Trojans. After losing JuJu Smith-Schuster to the NFL last season, the junior receiver stepped up and filled the void for quarterback Sam Darnold.
Burnett wound up with his first 1,000-yard season as he brought in 86 receptions for 1,114 yards and an impressive nine touchdowns. He should have no problem continuing to provide a quick, shifty route runner over the middle at the next level and will be a great weapon for Mayfield to deploy.