Cleveland Browns mock draft: Deep safety added to solve secondary concerns

The Cleveland Browns add a safety capable of playing in deep coverage, which should be a huge help, in this seven-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft

With the Cleveland Browns sitting back this weekend enjoying a 2-1 start and a spot atop the AFC North, let’s take some time to look ahead to the offseason with another seven-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft.

Cleveland will be without a pick in Round 1 this coming offseason, as well as 2024, due to the Deshaun Watson trade. Even without a day one pick, general manager Andrew Berry has proven he can find talent beyond Thursday night, and that happens in this mock as the Browns bring in a centerfielder to help shore up some defensive concerns.

Cleveland Browns 7-round 2023 NFL mock draft

Round 2: Jalen Catalon, S, Arkansas

In the first two games of the season, the Browns surrendered a couple of deep passes that could have led to an 0-2 start. Robbie Anderson broke free for a 75-yard touchdown that helped the Carolina Panthers take a late lead. Cleveland was able to win thanks to a 58-yard field goal from Cade York, but they weren’t as fortunate in their second game.

That was when Corey Davis went 66-yards to the house to start the unfortunate meltdown against the New York Jets. While they didn’t have any huge blown plays in Week 3, there were still several plays where the coverage was off against the Steelers.

Not everything is on the players though. Cleveland has three safeties who are all better close to the line of scrimmage in John Johnson III, Grant Delpit, and Ronnie Harrison. That’s why they use their first pick in this mock draft on Jalen Catalon from Arkansas.

Listed at 5-foot-10 and 200-pounds, Catalon is a versatile player who can get it done in deep coverage. He has 159 tackles and five picks in his career and should help shore up some of the issues with the long ball that this defense has been susceptible to.