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Cleveland Browns: Top 3 players to target on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft

By Sam Penix

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Defensive lineman Jay Tufele #78 of the USC Trojans celebrates in game agaisnt Colorado Buffaloes at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 13, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Defensive lineman Jay Tufele #78 of the USC Trojans celebrates in game agaisnt Colorado Buffaloes at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 13, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns, 2021 NFL Draft
Sep 29, 2018; Tucson, AZ, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive lineman Jay Tufele (78) runs onto the field before the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Jay Tufele, DT, USC

With the release of Sheldon Richardson, finding a spot for a rookie defensive tackle becomes a much easier task. The team declined to dive into a weak class over the first two days, but the value at this point in the draft may be too much to pass up, and it makes sense from a long-term perspective.

Malik Jackson and Andrew Billings will form a solid starting tandem, one that should be better than Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi. Second-year player Jordan Elliott should take a step forward, but Sheldon Day, currently the fourth DT on the roster, could easily be replaced.

Tufele is a player that many thought could have been a first-round pick, but he opted out of the 2020 campaign. He is still just 21 years old and stands 6-2, 305 pounds. He isn’t an overly impressive athlete in any area, but he is quick and fairly disruptive, logging 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks over his two seasons for the Trojans.

As a rotational player, Tufele could be brought along slowly, and could take on a larger role in 2022 when both Billings and Jackson are free agents.

Next. Cleveland Browns mock draft Day 3. dark

The Browns will be getting some solid players on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft, and the best part is that none of them will be counted upon to play major roles this season.

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