Cleveland Browns perfect targets for first 3 draft picks in 2022 NFL Draft

Even though the Cleveland Browns don’t have a first-round draft pick, there are still some great prospects they can go after.

We are less than two weeks away from the 2022 NFL Draft, and now that it’s getting closer. and closer, the suspense is building with what the Cleveland Browns will do with their selections. There are two obvious needs on their roster: wide receiver and defensive line.

Lucky for general manager Andrew Berry, this draft is loaded with talent in both of those areas.

In the past two drafts since Berry has been leading the charge, Cleveland has done a great job getting talent in the second round. He selected Grant Delpit in the second round of the 2020 draft — landing a player who many thought was a first-round talent.

In 2021, he moved up a few spots to get a massive steal in Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, also repeatedly mocked in the first round. Berry has also got production out of picks in the third and fourth rounds too. Let’s take a lot at the perfect scenario for Cleveland’s first three draft picks in 2022.

Cleveland Browns target: Round 2, pick 44 – WR George Pickens – Georgia

There are a few routes that Andrew Berry can take with pick No. 44, but taking George Pickens makes the most sense here. The Browns have been targeting young players with tremendous upside for a few years now, and Pickens just turned 21 years old on March 4th.

Even though his stock has been rising lately, he is ranked as the 57th best player on Pro Football Focus. That means there is a good chance he will be available at pick 44. He tore his ACL last spring, but he’s had numerous flashes of being a really good wide receiver. Overall, Pickens has “an Andrew Berry selection” written all over him.

Cleveland Browns target: Round 3, pick 78 – EDGE Josh Paschal – Kentucky

Even if the Browns re-sign Jadeveon Clowney, they will still need a rotational pass rusher on the defensive line. There’s a chance he will be gone, but Josh Paschal would be a great pickup here.

The thing to like about him the most is that he is very explosive and fast off the line of scrimmage. He would be a project and need time to develop, but with how explosive he is, he could make an impact in his rookie year. He finished with 5 sacks and a whopping 15 tackles for a loss in 2021.

https://twitter.com/CatsCoverage_/status/1315093290216296450?s=20&t=FmCI6GStdEnj6XLIsymN1w

Cleveland Browns target: Round 3, pick 99 – DL Matthew Butler – Tennessee

The interior defensive line might be the weakest position on the Browns roster. Some have speculated that the coaching staff and front office do not value the interior defensive line as much as pass rushers and secondary.

It’s a pass-happy league, after all. Either way, they still need players at that position and Matthew Butler would be another solid pickup at pick 99.

Butler started 2 and a half years at Tennessee and is known for using his leverage and strong hands to attack offensive linemen.

Picking him here would help fill a hole on the roster and he could potentially turn into the starter in a few years.