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.
NFL Draft Scenario No. 3: Cleveland Browns move up into the first round
With the Browns having draft picks in the early rounds and a few trade options at their disposal, it would be a strong possibility that the team try and move back into the first round of the draft. Now, who would the team be targeting to try and get back into the initial round is up for a lot of debate.
There are several elite wide receivers in the draft. The draft board is deep as well with talent at this position, so if the Browns hold on to their 44th pick, they could get a very good wide receiver.
At the top of the class, you have Garrett Wilson (Ohio State), Drake London (USC), Treylon Burks (Arkansas), Jameson Williams (Alabama), and Chris Olave (Ohio State). There could be a run on these players early, but I suspect one or two of these players could be there at 44.
However, the next tier of wideouts including John Metchie III (Alabama) and Jahan Dotson (Penn State) or Christian Watson (North Dakota State) would all likely be there and maybe even at the 78th pick the Browns currently own.
Cleveland might lock in on any number of defensive linemen, or even an offensive lineman to try and pick up if they tried getting back into the first round. These position players wouldn’t be the attractive pick that some fans are hoping for, but it would strengthen parts of the team that need to get better. If the team was looking at an edge rusher in the draft they might try and move up to get George Karlaftis out of Purdue. If it were an offensive lineman, they might try for a player like center/guard Tyler Linderbaum out of Iowa.
The possibilities are endless, but the Browns have a history of taking defensive players first such as they did last year when they took cornerback Greg Newsome II in the first round and then Jeremiah Owusu-Koramooah with the 52nd pick.
In the 2020 draft, after Cleveland took Jedrick Wills, an offensive lineman, they took defensive players, Grant Delpit, Jordan Elliot, and Jacob Phillips with their next three picks in the early rounds.
NFL Draft Scenario No. 2: Cleveland Browns stay put with their picks
With the four picks in rounds two through four, the Browns will be able to get several very good players if they simply stay put. What positions they zone in on will likely come down to who they think is the best player available at the time.
There’s a lot of buzz around the deepness of the wide receiver talent for this draft so if they took one at any of their early-round picks they’d still be getting an excellent wide receiver.
The list of quality wide receivers is endless it seems for this draft. John Metchie III (Alabama), Skyy Moore (Western Michigan), Christian Watson (North Dakota State), Alec Pierce (Cincinnati), and Jalen Tolbert (South Alabama) will all likely be available to the Browns if they wanted one in the early to mid rounds.
If Cleveland were to go with a less popular position on the team, let’s say the offensive line, there would be several quality candidates to help the team out. Zion Johnson(Boston College), Nicholas Petite-Frere (Ohio State), and Kellen Diesch (Arizona State) could all be there in the early stages of the draft.
If you look at the history of this front office and their selections in the previous two drafts, having them select defensive players first might be the way they go again so the Browns may want to try and fill defensive line positions and there is a plethora of talent here. DeMarvin Leal (Texas A&M), John Ridgeway (Arkansas), and Travis Jones (Connecticut) could all be available to the team.
Also, the team could try and pick up an excellent player like Jeremy Ruckert, out of Ohio State to help bring into the tight-end happy Browns squad. So there are countless possibilities in these rounds to pick up some great talent even if they just stand pat.
NFL Draft Scenario No. 1: Cleveland Browns trade Mayfield and other veteran players
The biggest move for the Browns could be if they were able to trade quarterback Baker Mayfield during the draft. We’ve waited a few weeks already without any indication that other teams are lining up at Cleveland’s door eager to trade for him. The speculation is that no one wants to take the $18.8 million that is due to Mayfield next season.
So we sit and wait. Maybe during the first round, but more likely in the next couple of rounds, some team would try and negotiate draft picks with Cleveland and then bring Mayfield onto their team.
What teams will miss out on selecting one of the higher valued college prospects like Malik Willis out of Liberty or Kenny Pickett from the University of Pittsburgh and then look to the Browns to bring in a good veteran like Mayfield?
There’s also the possibility that other veterans like cornerback Denzel Ward, who still hasn’t negotiated a new deal with the team could be available in a trade. The Browns also have a veteran-like running back Kareem Hunt that might be on the trading block as well, especially if the Browns could gain a few drafts picks.
Numerous teams around the league need a solid running back like Hunt and I wouldn’t be shocked if he were dealt at some point.
This is always the silly season of the NFL as we build to the draft. We are in the middle of free agency as well so the rumor mill will continue.
However the Browns tackle this draft, the team has had a solid history so far with their front office and general manager Andrew Berry selecting excellent players in the draft. I’d expect much of the same in a few weeks.