3 late round prospects for the Cleveland Browns in the 2022 NFL Draft
By Jacob Roach
The Cleveland Browns hold 4 picks on day 3 of the 2022 NFL draft let’s look at a few players they should target with those selections.
The NFL draft is less than three weeks away and if the Cleveland Browns want to be a winning team for a sustained amount of time they need to hit on late-round draft picks.
The early rounds matter too but finding these diamonds in the rough is exactly how teams like the New England Patriots were so good for so long.
The later rounds are the perfect time to add depth and rotational players as well as guys that have great athletic profiles you think you can develop. Let’s take a look at three players at positions of need the Browns should target in the later rounds of the draft.
Cleveland Browns late-round target number 3- Smoke Monday, safety, Auburn
The Browns’ need for safety in the draft isn’t as high after they re-signed Ronnie Harrison to a one-year deal on Friday. But with Joe Woods as defensive coordinator, you cannot have enough big safties that can play in the box. Smoke Monday from Auburn fits the mold as a free safety that can play deep but also has great size to play in the box.
Monday checked in at the NFL combine at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds with 32 1/2-inch arms, he has great size for the position. Monday is a rangy safety with good sideline to sideline speed allowing him to cover a lot of ground in the defensive backfield. He has the size to hold up against the run as well as his ability to play deep.
Monday just fits what the Browns want in a safety and is likely a guy that could be had in the sixth round or later. When you want to play several safeties, sometimes in the box as a linebacker, you need depth with the same skill set as the starters.