Cleveland Browns land big time receiver in new mock draft

The Cleveland Browns land star Ohio State receiver Garrett Wilson in new ESPN mock draft

When talking about the Cleveland Browns, is it really ever too early to start talking draft? In what was supposed to be a year of a deep playoff run and high expectations for the Browns, it has turned into the complete opposite.

Nobody envisioned Cleveland sitting at 5-5 after 10 games before this season began. An electric offense and a revamped defense all but fell apart as the season kicked off.

Now, here we are, looking at the current playoff picture with the only real hope of getting incoming from a division title. The Browns have next to no room for error the rest of the way, making it seem like a long shot they get into the big dance this season.

ESPN’s Jordan Reid officially released his Mock Draft 1.0 early Wednesday morning and Cleveland ended up with the 20th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Who was their first-round selection? Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State.

As most people know, Ohio State seems to be an NFL draft pick factory. Producing tons of good NFL players year after year, all they know is producing big-time talent. For wide receiver Garrett Wilson, his ceiling in the NFL appears to be extremely high.

The 6-foot monster has done nothing but produce since stepping foot at Ohio State, making him a top receiver in this year’s deep receiver draft class.

With games still to be played this season for Ohio State, Wilson is already having the best season of his college career, having 53 receptions for 813 yards and 9 touchdowns. Think about that. That means in 53 catches on the incomplete season, he is averaging 15.3 yards per catch. That’s a first down every time he gets the ball. Keep in mind, he’s doing it with a 20-year-old quarterback that’s in his first year as a starter.

I believe the Browns could shake up the receiver room even more than they already have come off-season time, as the passing game has not been what most expected so far this season. Odell Beckham Jr is gone. Jarvis Landry signed a 5-year, $75 million dollar contract when arriving in Cleveland.

Averaging $15 million per year, that seems like way too much, especially considering the lack of production this year. Rashard Higgins signed a small one-year deal to return to Cleveland, and he’s been quiet as can be this year. In his second year, Donovan Peoples-Jones seems like he will be the clear-cut WR1 moving forward for the Browns.

Again, receivers can’t throw themselves the ball. A lot of blame falls on the quarterback. However, if the passing game isn’t the focus of your offense, removing guys who currently make lots of money and replacing them with young and exciting receivers with big time potential might be the best move for the team.