Cleveland Browns tackle issues on offense and defense in 2022 mock draft
The Cleveland Browns have several holes on their roster on both sides of the ball and will look to fix the holes on the roster in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Cleveland Browns 2021 season was nothing short of a disappointment. After a playoff run in 2020 that ended in a narrow loss to the then-defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs, fans and media members alike thought that 2021 would be a year that the team would make another step forward and build off that success.
However, those aspirations were never met, with injuries to key players, dysfunction, and drama in the locker room, as well as players just not playing up to their expected potential, the Browns ultimately missed the playoffs. That is how they find themselves sitting with the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
While 2021 was a disappointing year, it does allow everyone to focus on the draft and look to fix the issues that held the team back, be it through self-improvement or player acquisition to fill holes in the roster.
In this 2022 mock draft, the Cleveland Browns address those holes on their roster, both on offense and defense, and look to get back to the exciting level of play from the 2020 season.
Cleveland Browns Round 1 pick: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
The Browns could use an offensive playmaker at wide receiver, and taking one with the 13th pick in the draft is very likely. Another hole this team has, however, is on the defensive line, especially on the interior. The starting spots are all up for grabs, especially following defensive tackle Malik McDowell’s arrest in Florida this past week.
With McDowell already likely on one of his last shots in the NFL because of previous off-the-field issues, the need for a quality defensive tackle rises to first priority. Thankfully, Georgia’s Jordan Davis is a quality prospect that can immediately fill that void.
Davis is a superb run-defender that can dominate anyone who attempts to block him. His presence on Georgia’s National Championship defensive line was felt on every snap that he was on the field, and that is something that can continue in the NFL.
The AFC North is full of teams that play old-school, smash-mouth football that focuses on running the ball. Having a hole in the middle of the defensive line is something you want to avoid in that division, so drafting Davis here will fill that hole. While he can be a three-down player, he’ll most likely be best as a first and second-down defensive tackle who leaves the field in passing situations.