Browns mock draft: Filling the remaining holes in 7-round mock

John Johnson III was arguably one of the best free-agent signings in the entire NFL this offseason. He fills a massive need and signed a contract that didn’t kill Cleveland’s salary cap. With him in town, the Browns look much better at safety especially if Grant Delpit can return from his torn Achilles and Ronnie Harrison, Jr. can avoid the nagging injuries that plagued him in 2020.

Behind those three, the Browns have Sheldrick Redwine who made his share of plays last season as well. Overall, the safety corps is good but they want to remain deep.

For that reason, Cleveland selects Darrick Forrest from Cincinnati here. Forrest fits what the Browns want from a safety in that he’s disciplined and can play in multiple spots on the defense. A scheme-diverse safety, Forrest could prove to be a steal at this point in the draft.

With their final pick in this Browns mock draft, Cleveland lands another cornerback in Tay Gowan from UCF. For the past couple of seasons, injuries have been a major concern in the secondary and that’s why landing Greg Newsome in the first won’t be enough. They simply need more bodies.

Gowan isn’t blowing anyone away with his athleticism or instincts but he stands 6-foot-2 and 185-pounds. He’s good enough to fill in should the Browns need a player in a pinch and is a decent tackler — which could help him land a role on special teams.