Cleveland Browns land quarterback in 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft

Defensive tackle is a big need for the Browns. Larry Ogunjobi is a free agent after the season and hasn’t exactly earned himself a big extension. Sheldon Richardson is due $13 million in 2021 but can be released for little dead money. Richardson is a good player, but that’s a steep price for one who is not elite. Rookie Jordan Elliott has been up-and-down thus far, but should end up becoming a good player. Andrew Billings will be back for 2021 after opting out of this season.

The Browns will likely add a free agent or two, but they also need to draft at least one DT. Dante Stills’ brother Darius, also a Mountaineer DT, was voted the Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Dante has the taller frame and is the better run defender at this point, and presents good value in the fifth round.

The Browns may not be using their third wide receiver all that much, but that may be more due to the fact that Rashard Higgins is not that dynamic and Donovan Peoples-Jones is still extremely raw. Clemson consistently churns out quality WRs, and with Justyn Ross sidelined for the year, Rodgers has stepped up in a huge way.

Amari Rodgers caught 25 passes for 429 yards and five touchdowns this season, displaying excellent route-running skills. Despite his 5-10 height, he can play inside or out, which would give Cleveland multiple ways to use him.

A personal favorite of this writer, Braden Galloway was suspended for the vast majority of the 2019 campaign after testing positive for ostarine. Galloway maintains his innocence, and as that positive test didn’t affect former teammate Dexter Lawrence (who went 17th overall in 2019 after testing positive for the supplement), Galloway’s stock shouldn’t be affected much either.

With David Njoku reportedly still wanting to be traded before the November 3rd deadlline (that is the biggest thing happening that day, right?), a replacement will eventually need to be acquired. And even if Njoku sticks around, adding a fourth tight end is not a bad idea, especially if it’s Galloway at this value.

Imagine Galloway as David Njoku but a bit shorter, with much better hands, much better blocking effort, less explosion, better routes, and more quickness and agility. He’s lined up out wide, in the slot, in-line, and in the backfield. He can do a variety of different things, which head coach Kevin Stefanski will love.

This season, Galloway has caught 11 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. He is averaging an impressive 7.4 yards after catch per reception, which provides a glimpse of his upside. He’s been targeted just 25 times throughout his career, so he is primarily a trait-based evaluation at this point, but Galloway should be a much better pro than college player.

With this draft class, the Browns would be supplying their new (supposed) franchise quarterback with a strong defense and an offense with a ridiculous amount of talent. A rookie QB would finally be in a good situation in Cleveland. It’s been a long time since that could be said.