Cleveland Browns 7-round 2021 NFL mock draft Week 8 edition
By Sam Penix
RB. Washington State. 5. player. Pick Analysis. MaxBorghi. 846. Scouting Report
Running back isn’t exactly high on the Browns list of needs, as they boast the best 1-2 punch in football. But Nick Chubb will be entering the final year of his rookie deal, and as sad at it is, the likelihood of this front office extending him is very low.
The comparisons to Christian McCaffery are inevitable, and while it’s unfair to expect Max Borghi to be that good, he does have a similar skill set. In addition to averaging 5.9 yards per carry and running for 19 touchdowns over his first two collegiate seasons, Borghi has caught 139 passes for 971 yards and nine scores. He’s the kind of back that you can split out wide, which is something the Browns have done quite a bit with Kareem Hunt.
Pick Analysis. PatrickJohnson. 6. player. 2115. Scouting Report. EDGE. Tulane
A four-year starter for the Green Wave, Patrick Johnson could be deployed in a similar way to how the Browns used Genard Avery as a rookie. There’s no guarantee a sixth-round pick will make the Browns roster next year, but Johnson could provide good depth at EDGE. He’d likely be competing with Porter Gustin to be the team’s fifth EDGE.
For more depth on the defensive interior, Cleveland goes with Alim McNeil as its final pick in this mock. As a 1-tech/nose tackle, McNeil has been a very good run defender with some pass-rush juice. Like Johnson, he wouldn’t be guaranteed a roster spot, but given the projected lack of depth there in 2021, McNeil would have a good chance to make the team.
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This class wouldn’t fix the Cleveland defense entirely, but it would certainly make a big difference. Kevin Stefanski would also get two new offensive weapons with which to scheme. In reality, it’s likely that none of these players will be available at these spots, but that’s what makes in-season mock drafts so much fun.