Reports: Browns Could Trade Back to Draft Ezra Cleveland

Several reports on Thursday evening alluded to the Cleveland Browns trading back for Ezra Cleveland, who the Browns are certainly interested in.

The Cleveland Browns are undoubtedly interested in Boise State left tackle Ezra Cleveland, and that buzz is beyond his coincidental last name.

On Thursday afternoon, reports from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, RealGM’s Jeff Risdon, and KOA’s Benjamin Allbright all tinkered around the news that the Browns are certainly interested in Cleveland as their future left tackle.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to Browns fans, as the team has had multiple confirmed meetings with Cleveland, who is usually projected as the seventh-ranked offensive tackle this draft has to offer. The Browns have reportedly met with Cleveland at his Pro Day, before the combine, as well as a private meeting and FaceTime calls.

Brugler added the Browns think highly of the 6-foot-6 Cleveland, and trading back in order to add another Day Two draft selection might be general manager Andrew Berry’s most attractive option.

Cleveland did not have the illustrious combine or collegiate careers like the top four tackles in this class. However, none of the top four come without flaws, and Berry could see that as enough reason to move down to snag his own work-in-progress prospect that he has done much homework on.

The reason Cleveland is not regarded as one of this draft’s best offensive lineman is that there are question marks regarding his strength and anchor at an NFL level. He’s certainly not one of the strongest, and might not even be considered NFL-ready by some teams. Cleveland will certainly struggle against the bull rush in the NFL at his current stature, and the Browns don’t need Baker Mayfield’s blindside unprotected for yet another season.

The good news is, putting on weight and adding strength is one of the easiest fixes for an NFL prospect. It helps that the Browns also employ one of, if not the best, offensive line coaches in all of football in Bill Callahan.

Also, head coach Kevin Stefanski’s wide zone run scheme could make Cleveland an attractive option at left tackle, as he possesses incredible mobility and athleticism.

A turf toe caused Cleveland to miss practices in 2019, as well as missing one start. However, he started in the rest of the team’s 13 games, earning a Mountain West Conference First Team honor. In 2018, Cleveland started all 13 games at left tackle while earning the same honors. His second year on campus, Cleveland was Academic All-Mountain West. Stefanski and Berry have both noted they want smart players on the Browns.

Berry’s analytically-driven front office certainly seems intrigued with the option of trading down in order to draft Cleveland.