NFL draft, first-round mock picks 1-10, and Cleveland Browns pick No. 26
By Greg Newland
10. Dallas Cowboys – Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT, USC
After so many years of Tyron Smith being the anchor of the Dallas Cowboys offensive line, the time has come to find his replacement with so many injuries the past few years. While it will be tempting to help strengthen the defense, Jerry Jones will want to show Dak Prescott he has his back.
Alijah Vera-Tucker originally wasn’t going to play in 2020, but in the last seconds decided to opt back in. Vera-Tucker had a fantastic year at left tackle and really cemented himself as a top-15 prospect.
Cleveland Browns – Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
There are a lot of holes on the Cleveland Browns defense coming in 2021, but one glaring weakness is at corner opposite Denzel Ward. There is a belief that Greedy Williams can be that second corner, but after an injury that kept him off the field for the entire season in 2020, no one is for certain his health will ever return.
Jaycee Horn is a perfect fit for the Browns. Not only does he come from an NFL bloodline (father is Joe Horn), he plays a physical style of game. Horn can play tight man-to-man coverage and he’s not afraid to step up and make a tackle on a running back.
Ward and Williams have been great when healthy, but both lack the tackling skills that Horn would bring to the team. Horn could be off the board before the Browns pick at oN. 26, but there is some fear his physical style of play could draw a lot of flags if he doesn’t learn to trust his feet.
Next. 4 Free agents the Cleveland Browns won't land. dark
If Williams ends up being healthy, Horn can step in immediately as the nickel corner. If Williams struggles to get back on the field, Horn can also step in and be a day one starter at corner. A little bit of coaching and technique work could have Horn playing at an elite level early in his career.