5 best moves of the Cleveland Browns 2021 offseason

2. Trading up for Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

Landing Greg Newsome II in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft was a boon for Cleveland, as the perfect blend of talent, fit, and need fell right into their laps. Throughout the pre-draft process, it seemed like the Browns were best suited to trade up from their second-round selection, 59th overall, to land either a cornerback or a wide receiver. Notre Dame defender Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was an intriguing option, but it seemed unlikely that he would be on the board at No. 26.

As it happened, Owusu-Koramoah was available when the Browns took Newsome, and his slide continued into the late 40s. Considering he was almost universally considered a top-20 prospect, it was stunning to see him continue to fall.

Eventually, the Browns got tired of waiting and moved up seven spots with the Carolina Panthers to snag JOK, swapping 3.89 for 4.113, which they then turned into 5.153 and Detroit’s fourth-round selection in 2022, which could very well end up being one of the first three selections of Day 3.

The crowd in Cleveland went wild, both when the Browns moved up and when the pick was announced. It remains to be seen just where JOK will fit into the defense, but he’ll certainly make a big impact. He’s too explosive, agile, smart, and flat-out good to keep off the field, even if he’s adjusting to a new position.