Cleveland Browns add pair of Buckeyes in NFL mock draft at Week 16

The Browns desperately need help at linebacker. The question is how much capital are they willing to sink into the position, as the end goal is to play with only one on the field most of the time. Devin Lloyd has put together a solid 2020 campaign, during which he has shown off good coverage ability and excellent run fit instincts. His 6-3 230 pound frame is great, and at the very least he’d provide good depth as a rookie.

Trey Sermon may have burst onto the scene as an Ohio State Buckeye this past week with a dominant performance in the Big Ten Championship Game against Northwestern, but he’s been on NFL radars since 2017. He was a great runner for the Oklahoma Sooners, but his playing time plummeted in 2019. He transferred to OSU and in his first significant action, broke Eddie George’s single-game rushing record, totaling 331 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. He is a patient runner with good vision and enough burst and quickness. He’s no Nick Chubb, but for a team that is going to have to make some tough decisions at the position, Sermon would provide some peace of mind down the road.

Another Buckeye, Tommy Togiai gets overshadowed by the play of teammate Haskell Garrett, but is a solid player in his own right. He’s a good pass-rusher for a 300-pounder and defends the run at a high level. As a rotational player, he’d be about as good as you can do.

Two Buckeyes are bound to make many fans happy, but this class would be a boon for the Browns overall. It would go a long way to making the defense respectable, and if Mayfield continues to play like this, the entire NFL should be on guard next season.