Cleveland Browns fix defense in bye week 7-round 2021 NFL mock draft
By Sam Penix
A 7-round Cleveland Browns 2021 NFL mock draft for the bye week
It’s the bye week for the Cleveland Browns, which means it’s the perfect time for a 7-round Browns mock draft. This week’s mock will be focused on improving the defense, which has been a huge issue all season, but was exposed in the conditions against the Las Vegas Raiders.
We’ll be using The Draft Network’s simulator, with the Browns selecting 20th overall. Cleveland is 5-3 at the mid-season point, and is in position to make the playoffs (they are currently the AFC’s seventh and final seed). The team is far from a Super Bowl contender, as evidenced by their terrible losses against the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, but the first half of the 2020 campaign has been an overall success.
It’s clear what needs to happen for the Browns moving forward. Baker Mayfield needs to prove himself as a franchise quarterback. If that happens, the offense is pretty much set, with the exception of some long-term wide receiver depth.
The defense is the main concern at this point. Greedy Williams and Grant Delpit are two starters who haven’t played this season, but the group provides minimal resistance against both the run and the pass. Myles Garrett is the best pass-rusher in the NFL, but even he can do only so much to mask the deficiencies elsewhere. Defensive coordinator Joe Woods wants to eventually play a base dime package, but he doesn’t have the personnel needed yet. And if the Browns want to do that, they’d better make sure their defensive line stops the run.
With all that said, let’s go find some new starters.