Cleveland Browns get more explosive on both sides in 7-round mock draft
By Randy Gurzi
The Cleveland Browns get more explosive on offense and defense in this 2021 seven-round mock draft
2020 ended up being a season to remember for the Cleveland Browns. They ended several years’ worth of droughts by winning 11 games and then adding a playoff victory. This proved to be their first winning season since 2007, playoff berth since 2002, and playoff win since 1994 when Bill Belichick was the head coach.
The best news, however, is that this team is just getting started. The majority of their star players are all relatively young including quarterback Baker Mayfield, defensive end Myles Garrett, running back Nick Chubb, and cornerback Denzel Ward. This means they should be able to continue to put together winning seasons, as long as they continue to bring in an influx of talent each offseason.
With that said, we look ahead to the 2021 NFL Draft and predict which players could land with Cleveland this offseason — and in this mock, they end up landing an explosive player for each side of the ball with their first two picks.
Georgia. player. 814. Pick Analysis. EDGE. AzeezOjulari. 1. Scouting Report
At first glance, Azeez Ojulari might not seem like a fit with the Browns. He played more of a stand-up pass-rushing role for the Georgia Bulldogs and is listed at 6-foot-3 and 240-pounds. But this doesn’t mean he wouldn’t fit with their defense.
Ojulari did play all three downs for the Bulldogs and had plenty of snaps in the three-point stance, meaning defensive coordinator Joe Woods should feel comfortable asking him to put his hand in the dirt. Then again, Woods has also shown a willingness to adapt to what his players do best.
Take Olivier Vernon for instance. Vernon really started to come on strong at the end of 2020 before tearing his Achilles and while health was attributed to his success, there was another factor. Woods had also started using Vernon as a stand-up pass rusher at times, and considering he also had a 3-4 defensive background before joining Cleveland, this move made sense.
Look for similar usage for Ojulari, who is an explosive pass rusher and built similarly to Vernon. Fresh off a season where he had 31 tackles with 12.5 for a loss and 9.5 sacks. Lining him up opposite Myles Garrett would make the Cleveland defensive line one to fear.