Cleveland Browns: Way-too-early 7-round 2022 mock draft

4. Jordan Battle, S, Alabama

A team can never have too many quality defensive backs, and that’s exactly what Battle is. He’s been a productive tackler for the Crimson Tide over the past two seasons and lines up all over the field. He’s an incredibly cerebral defender, playing the game a step ahead of everyone else. Adding another versatile talent to the secondary would help bolster a unit that, on paper, has the potential to become one of the league’s best.

4. Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama

Christian Barmore was hailed as a potential first-round pick and the top defensive tackle in the 2021 class, but Mathis was the more consistently impactful player. He’s a solid 6-4 312 pounds with quality tape against both the run and the pass, and with just two DTs under contract for next season, and neither proven in the NFL, adding more talent to the room is a must.

5. Zion Johnson, G, Boston College

Joel Bitonio is still elite, but he is getting older and will be on the final year of his contract in 2022, and none of it is guaranteed. Wyatt Teller was fantastic in 2020, but given the contracts given out to players like Joe Thuney this past offseason, could be playing himself out of the Browns price range. The team could easily find themselves in need of at least one interior lineman, even if he isn’t being counted upon to start. Johnson was one of the country’s better guards in 2020, and should be even better as a junior.

6. Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada

Adding more explosive talent to the wide receiver room is a must, especially if four guys are to be replaced next offseason. Doubs caught 58 passes for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns last season and is a true deep threat, being targeted on average 17.1 yards down the field. He’s likely to go much higher than this, and should be a player to watch for Browns fans all season.

7. Al Blades Jr., CB, Miami

The son of the late Al Blades Sr., a former safety for the San Francisco 49ers, Blades Jr. offers quality length and good all-around athleticism. It was puzzling to see the Browns draft only one cornerback over the weekend, but it’s a near-certainty that they will be drafting at least one every year moving forward.

It’s incredibly unlikely that the Browns will land all of these players in the 2022 NFL Draft, but each one offers plenty of talent and potential at projected positions of need for this team, and are prospects to watch next season.