Cleveland Browns land Rashod Bateman in three-round mock

The Cleveland Browns land Rashod Bateman on With the First Pick mock

Sunday was a bittersweet day for the Cleveland Browns. They won their fifth game of the season to move to 5-2 on the year and did so in dramatic fashion. Quarterback Baker Mayfield hit rookie Donovan Peoples-Jones for a game-winning touchdown, but they also suffered a loss in the game.

Wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. was hurt on their opening drive as he tried to make a tackle after a Mayfield interception. The initial indication was that the injury was serious and that fear was confirmed on Monday when news broke that OBJ tore his ACL.

Now, there’s a chance that the Browns could look to move on from Beckham, or at least that’s what Cory Kinnan believes. He wrote as much in his latest three-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft on With the First Pick, which led to him selecting Minnesota wideout Rashod Batemen with the 20th pick.

"“Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman should be at the top of the list for the Browns as he enters his Junior season with the Golden Gophers. Bateman was able to rack up over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns on 60 catches a year ago while sharing targets with 2020 fifth rounder of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tyler Johnson and Chris Autman-Bell.” — Kinnan, With the First Pick"

There’s no denying Bateman would be a great fit and if the Browns did move on from OBJ, Bateman could easily become a starter for them. He also has a skill set that fits perfectly with Mayfield’s style of play.

After that pick, Kinnan focused on defense. At pick No. 52, Kinnan had the Browns taking North Carolina linebacker Chazz Surratt — which fills a huge need. Cleveland’s linebacking corps has been a problem in 2020 and adding a player early should help shore that up.

He finished off his three-round draft by taking Virginia edge rusher Charles Snowden at No. 84 and then Washington defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike at 87.

Again, this is all about fixing some weaknesses. Snowden would take over for Olivier Vernon who hasn’t been able to stay healthy and Onwuzurike would give them some much-needed defensive line depth.