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Cleveland Browns land Myles Garrett’s partner in Wild Card 2021 NFL mock draft

By Sam Penix

COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 24: Shaun Wade #24 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in action against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio Stadium on October 24, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 24: Shaun Wade #24 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in action against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio Stadium on October 24, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns
Oct 31, 2020; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Texas Longhorns linebacker Joseph Ossai (46) waits on the snap during the third quarter of the game agains the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Texas won 41-34. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /

A Cleveland Browns mock draft heading into Wild Card Weekend

The Cleveland Browns were victorious in Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, earning themselves a wild card playoff berth and a matchup with…the Pittsburgh Steelers. While you wait for the longest week in recent Cleveland sports history to pass, entertain yourself with this 2021 Browns mock draft, which features a new pass-rushing partner and a much-maligned Ohio State defensive back.

For this week’s mock, we’ll use The Draft Network’s simulator. The Browns are currently slotted in at pick No. 23, but their spot will not be finalized until they either lose in the playoffs or win the Super Bowl. Odd feeling, isn’t it?

EDGE. Texas. JosephOssai. 1.23. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 851. player

Myles Garrett is arguably the NFL’s best pass-rusher, even if he struggled over the second half of the season due to injuries and COVID-19 complications. He needs some help on the other side of the line, and Olivier Vernon was providing it. Vernon had a terrific second half and was playing himself into a nice new contract before suffering a devastating Achilles rupture this past week.

A ruptured Achilles is a serious injury with a poor track record of full recovery and for a player like Vernon who is past 30 and has dealt with plenty of different injuries over the past few years, it’s really tough. Even if he does get back to full strength, he may not be ready in time for the start of the regular season.

At this point, he’ll probably return to the Browns on a cheap prove-it deal, but that can’t be counted on. Cleveland still needs to find a long-term complement to Garrett, and that’s exactly what the team gets in Joseph Ossai.

Over his past 22 games, Ossai has collected 29 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, and 145 tackles. He played as a move linebacker before making the switch to full-time EDGE in 2020, and the results were stellar. He’s listed at 6-4, 253 pounds and has the bend, explosiveness, and agility to be a top pass-rusher in the pros, and he plays the run well too.

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