Cleveland Browns NFL mock draft: plugging defensive holes

Cleveland Browns 5th round pick No. 147- Brenton Cox Jr., edge, Florida

You can never have enough pass rushers in the NFL and Cleveland has seen its depth at the position tested early on in 2022. In 2020 and 2021 for the Gators Brenton Cox, Jr. tallied 10 and 14.5 tackles for loss as well as 3.5 and 8 sacks respectively. Cox plays more of the outside linebacker position than a typical edge rusher which adds versatility to the position the Browns seem to covet.

Cleveland Browns 5th round pick No. 153- Ainias Smith, wide receiver, Texas A&M

Ainias Smith is a smaller wide reliever standing at 5-foot-10 and weighing 190 pounds but has really nice speed clocking in at 4.41 in the 40-yard dash. Cleveland could use more speed in the room with only Anthony Schwartz as a guy in the room with top-line speed. Taking a fifth-round flyer for a guy that can help take the top off a defense is always a good idea.

Cleveland Browns 6th round pick No. 179- Dontae Bull, offensive tackle, Fresno State

With Chris Hubbard likely gone after this season, the Browns may be in search of more depth at the position. Dontae Bull is a mountain of a man at 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds and is a mauler in the run game similar to Browns guard Wyatt Teller. With great physical traits, Bull would be a great prospect to give to offensive line coach Bill Callahan to mold into a productive NFL lineman.

Cleveland Browns 7th round pick No. 211- Tiawan Mullen, cornerback, Indiana

Cornerback is a position that is worthy of being picked every year because of the value they hold depth-wise in the NFL. Tiawan Mullen as a former track and field star has impressive speed and athleticism that is worth taking a chance on in the later rounds. After all, some believe that in round seven you draft more about traits than anything else.