Receiving corps gets boost in 7-round Browns mock draft

Round 4: Jaylon Carlies, S, Missouri

Ronnie Harrison looked like a steal in 2020 but then took a step backward in 2021. It was a bit of a surprise he was retained by Cleveland this offseason on a one-year deal but with limited options, they could have done much worse.

Defensive coordinator Joe Woods likes to employ three safeties, and with Harrison’s deal ending in 2023, they could add more depth — which is what they do with their second pick in the fourth round, bringing in Jaylon Carlies.

Carlies broke out in his second season with Missouri, racking up 67 tackles and four picks. He picked up where he left off, recording five tackles and an interception in the first game this season. He’s also never been afraid to use his 6-foot-3, 204-pound frame to deliver a hit.

His size allows him to take over in the hybrid safety role while potentially offering more in the way of turnovers.

Round 5: Keenan Pili, LB, BYU

Cleveland might not lean heavily on linebackers but they could use a few new players in the coming years. Sione Takitaki and Anthony Walker will both be free agents in 2023 and while they like Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Jacob Phillips, they have to be concerned about the durability of Phillips.

In an effort to protect themselves, they add Keenan Pili from BYU. He missed time in 2021, but is still an intriguing prospect from the same school where they landed Takitaki.