Cleveland Browns draft grade: 2022 Draft closed out with center depth

The Cleveland Browns drafted a lot of Big 12 players this draft. They used their last pick to take Center Dawson Deaton out of Texas Tech. 

The Cleveland Browns have reached that part of the draft. You know that awkward part where you start calling potential undrafted free agents to get a feel for the landscape. Every year some team takes a player at a position where the team is very strong because they need camp bodies.

The Brown’s camp body is the 246 overall pick Dawson Deaton out of Texas Tech. The Browns have Nick Harris slotted to start at Center with Ethan Pocic coming in to compete at the position.

Follow that up with two Pro-Bowl guards and no undrafted free agent interior offensive lineman is signing with your team.

Deaton has some athleticism. He will keep his feet moving and put himself in a good position to succeed. He plays smart and stays under control. But nobody projected the Browns taking a center in the seventh round.

Unfortunately, Deaton doesn’t have the body frame or size of an interior offensive lineman. He does not recognize stunts or games well by defensive linemen. But this could be a part of the Air Raid scheme he plays in.

Getting him with Bill Callahan will be exactly what Deaton will need to succeed at the NFL level. Like all rookies, he will need to bulk up to compete. But he will a complete project at Center.

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein projects Deaton will be a single position player, Center only. Without roster flexibility, the “more you can do” Browns mentality, might burn him out in the end.

Deaton may be a camp body and future practice squad player. He may fill in if there is a complete disaster at the position during training camp or mid-season. The best Deaton and the Browns can hope for is a developmental player who can back up a very important position.

Grade: C