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Cleveland Browns stockpile defense in 7-Round Mock Draft

By Randy Gurzi

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 26 : Leki Fotu #99 of the Utah Utes adjusts sets on the line against the California Golden Bears at Rice-Eccles Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 26 : Leki Fotu #99 of the Utah Utes adjusts sets on the line against the California Golden Bears at Rice-Eccles Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBIA, SC – SEPTEMBER 28: D.J. Wonnum #8 of the South Carolina Gamecocks sacks Sawyer Smith #12 of the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half of a game at Williams-Brice Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SC – SEPTEMBER 28: D.J. Wonnum #8 of the South Carolina Gamecocks sacks Sawyer Smith #12 of the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half of a game at Williams-Brice Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

Round 6, Pick 167: D.J. Wonnum, EDGE, South Carolina

There have been whispers lately that the Cleveland Browns might be releasing defensive end Olivier Vernon. As is the case with any rumor, this is being debated back and forth but there is reason to believe it could happen.

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While Vernon is still a very good player, he’s set to make more this season than anyone else on the team (per OverTheCap.com). That’s tough to justify for a player who has missed significant time in each of the past three seasons, including six last year for Cleveland.

Of course, this could all be jostling between the two sides as the Browns would probably like to keep Vernon but would surely like to get him to agree to a new, lower contract. Whether or not that happens could have a huge impact on the draft plans. If Vernon were gone, EDGE becomes a much bigger need, and they would have to make a move way earlier than this.

For now, we know he is on the team so we operate as if that will remain the case and take South Carolina’s D.J. Wonnum in the sixth round. Overshadowed by Javon Kinlaw on the Gamecocks defensive line, Wonnum silently put together a respectable career. In four seasons, he had 137 tackles, 29.5 for a loss, and 14 sacks.

He’s never been one to jump out when studying film and needs a lot of work with his technique pan of attack. But where he does stand out is with his non-stop motor. Wonnum will be someone who frustrates tackles with his relentlessness and could be a difference-maker on special teams early in his career.

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