Cleveland Browns mock draft: John Metchie strengthens receiver corps

The Cleveland Browns don’t have a pick in Round 1 but they still land a starting wideout in John Metchie II in this 7-round mock draft

It’s going to be a strange feeling for Cleveland Browns fans on draft night. What was once this franchise’s Super Bowl, could be an afterthought as they’re not going to participate in Round 1 for the next three seasons (barring any further trades) thanks to the Deshaun Watson trade.

Of course, this doesn’t mean they can’t still find good players. In fact, general manager Andrew Berry has landed a couple of starters in Round 2 in each of his first two drafts, bringing in Grant Delpit and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah the past two years.

Here, he again lands a starter in Round 2 of this 2022 NFL Mock Draft as Cleveland kicks things off with Alabama wide receiver John Metchie.

Cleveland Browns Round 2 Pick: John Metchie, WR, Alabama

There was a time when John Metchie appeared to be a Round 1 wideout. He racked up 916 yards and six touchdowns off 55 receptions in 2020 and was supposed to be the No. 1 guy in 2021.

Jameson Williams had other plans as he had a breakout season but Metchie still finished with a superb 1,142 yards and eight scores on 96 receptions. And in any other draft class, he would surely still be a day one pick.

But with the talent at receiver in 2022, Metchie is expected to be on the clock during the second night of the draft. In this mock, he’s gone as soon as the Browns turn in their card as they decide to pair him with Amari Cooper, another Alabama product who they recently added.

With Cooper, Metchie, and Donovan Peoples-Jones on the field together — and David Njoku at tight end — this offense could be much more explosive.