Cleveland Browns: Way-too-early 7-round 2022 mock draft
By Sam Penix
2. Tyreke Smith, EDGE, Ohio State
Considering that Myles Garrett is the only EDGE on the roster who is under contract for 2022, the position is also a massive need next offseason. Cleveland declined to draft a rookie this year, likely due to the weakness of the class.
2022 should feature much more talent, and with quality stop-gap veteran free agents available each year (Jadeveon Clowney and Takkarist McKinley, for example), that was the correct decision.
It’s taken Tyreke Smith a while to get going, and his production is still less than ideal, but he is ridiculously talented and really turned on the jets over the second half of 2020, putting up dominant performances against Northwestern and Clemson in the two biggest games he played in that season. He’ll pair with Zach Harrison to give Ohio State two potential first-round pass-rushers on the edge.
3. Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA
Austin Hooper had a disappointing inaugural season with Cleveland, and while David Njoku improved by leaps and bounds in 2020, he is in the final year of his rookie deal with no extension on the horizon. Tight end could be a real need next offseason, and adding a dynamic talent like Dulcich would be a boon for the offense.
He is a bit on the slighter side at 6-4 242 pounds but has room to add weight to his frame. He caught 26 passes for 516 yards and five touchdowns in 2020, averaging 19.9 yards per catch and a ridiculous 15.5 yards per target.
When watching him, it’s impossible not to see shades of Travis Kelce; he looks like a wide reciever on the field, and is just as threatening as one, if not more. Dulcich would add a new dynamic to the Browns passing game, one that could help unlock the true potential of Kevin Stefanski’s scheme.