Cleveland Browns: 3 early round scenarios in 2022 NFL Draft
By John Suchan
The 2022 NFL Draft is fast approaching, and the Cleveland Browns will likely be heavily involved in the action despite not having a first-round pick
A month from now we’ll all know a little bit more about the Cleveland Browns and the team they’re going to send out there on Sundays next fall. The NFL Draft is slated to kick off from Las Vegas on Thursday, April 28th and the Browns will be heavily involved. The team doesn’t have a first-round pick at the moment but with four picks in the next three rounds, it wouldn’t be a shocker if they snuck back into the initial round. We’ll discuss that in a moment.
In the meantime, several different scenarios could play out throughout the draft. Before the Browns made the mega-trade for new quarterback Deshaun Watson, the chatter was about Cleveland targeting a wide receiver in the first round.
The discussions also suggested that maybe they would try and pick up a defensive edge rusher with that first pick too. However, since the trade, the team will have some other options with their picks.
Right now Cleveland has the 44th, 78th, 99th, and 118th picks in the first half of the draft. They also have three picks between the 6th and 7th rounds. For a Browns front office that likes to wheel and deal they could be very busy during the draft.
The other factor in these scenarios to keep in mind will be what the Browns do with their other quarterback, Baker Mayfield. Do they trade him before the draft? The way the whole saga has been playing over the past few weeks, the trading or release of Mayfield could happen during or after the draft is over.
Cleveland also has other players, who could be on the trading block such as running back Kareem Hunt or even cornerback Denzel Ward who’s currently going into his fifth season on his initial rookie contract.
Despite, the outcry by some fans of the team, Ward hasn’t yet struck up a new contract with the Browns and the possibility of a trade isn’t that far-fetched. Ward is also injury prone and hasn’t made it through a season without some type of injury. That durability should be a concern for the franchise, especially if they want to sign him to a new deal.
Let’s breakdown now a few possibilities during the draft. I wouldn’t put it past the Browns to make some moves that none of us are prepared for. So let the fun begin.