2021 NFL Draft: 5 players the Cleveland Browns could draft at No. 26
By Josh Brown
The Cleveland Browns will have a plethora of options at 26 in the 2021 NFL draft.
Andrew Berry will have it a bit tougher in 2021 with the lowest pick the Cleveland Browns have had in a draft in a long time. I am sure he is fine with it.
Certainly, Browns fans must be happy not to have the draft be our idea of a Superbowl any longer. The next step is to draft at 32.
Before we can get to that point, Andrew Berry and his team will need to show they can keep the momentum going by adding solid picks in their second draft.
5. DL Jaelan Phillips, Miami Hurricanes
Phillips is a 6-5, 266-pound defensive lineman out of Miami — but he also spent time with the UCLA Bruins. Last season for the Hurricanes, Phillips put up 15.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks per College Football Reference.
He was also able to snag an interception and knock down three passes for the Canes. The 21-year-old spent his first two seasons with UCLA battling injuries and never reaching the potential he did in his lone season in Miami. With Olivier Vernon likely done as a Brown, this pick would provide the Browns a versatile pass rusher to replace the veteran.
Phillips brings the athleticism and speed to play in any scheme and all over the line if needed. He would make for a nice piece opposite superstar edge Myles Garrett which also makes him more dangerous. With the focus on stopping Garrett, Phillips has enough talent to take advantage of the one-on-one matchups he creates.
There are concerns regarding all the injuries that nearly caused him to give up on football and the sample size of only one dominant season. All the tools are there, but there would be a bigger risk in taking Phillips than some other similarly talented players with their first pick.