Cleveland Browns fix defense in bye week 7-round 2021 NFL mock draft

Larry Ogunjobi and Sheldon Richardson just aren’t cutting it on the interior of the defensive line. The Browns signed Andrew Billings to be their starting 1-tech this season, but he opted out. Neither Ogunjobi nor Richardson figures to be back in 2021, so that leaves rookie Jordan Elliott as the only other DT likely to be on the roster at this point. The front office clearly values the position (both starters and depth) highly, so it would be a surprise if they didn’t take one on Day 1 or Day 2.

It’s incredibly unlikely that a physical specimen on Marvin Wilson’s level falls to the middle of the second round, but it happened in this simulation. He’s listed at a monstrous 6-5 305 pounds, and probably weighs more than that. He’s extremely powerful and has impressive quickness for his size, giving him some serious pass-rushing juice.

Wilson may not be as good as Dexter Lawrence, but he’s in the same mold; a colossal run-stuffer that requires two blockers who can push the pocket and win 1-on-1. He’s earned PFF overall grades of above 90 in each of the past two seasons but has fallen off some in 2020.

The issue with Wilson is always going to be consistent, and it’s not for a lack of effort; he has a fantastic motor. His biggest weakness is pad level, which is always going to be a problem at his height. If he’s not extremely particular about getting off the snap in the right way, the opposing lineman will gain significant leverage, and then it doesn’t matter what the difference in power is.

Lawrence has been a very good pro player with the same issue to overcome. If Wilson can do that, he can be a key cog in the middle of Cleveland’s defense for the next decade.