The Cleveland Browns playoff hopes are gone and they no begin to look toward the future with this 2023 seven-round mock draft.
With the Cleveland Browns to the New Orleans Saints on Christmas Eve, they’re officially out of the playoff race. There are plenty of holes to fill on this roster if they are to return to the postseason in 2023.
There will likely be a lot of changes in Berea including an overhaul on the defensive side if they want to be more successful next season. Let’s take a look at a full seven-round mock draft, disclaimer the Browns will have a third-round comp pick that isn’t currently available on mock draft simulators.
Cleveland Browns Second-Round Pick No. 41: Andre Carter II, EDGE, Army
The idea of the team finding a difference-maker to play opposite Myles Garrett is one fans have been asking for now for quite a while. Andre Carter has a rare blend of physical tools and athleticism that can really improve the Browns’ pass rush. Checking in at 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds Carter has an explosive first step off the line making him difficult to block.
He has good hands and uses them well to shed blockers in the passing and running games that stick out on film. He dropped back in coverage a lot with Army and has the speed and athleticism to make plays in coverage. Learning from Garrett and benefiting from the attention he receives could make Carter an impact player from day one.
Cleveland Browns Fourth-Round Pick No. 98: Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma
The first thing that jumps off the film when you watch Marvin Mims is that he’s explosive with plenty of speed to burn teams deep. The Browns have had issues getting vertical since Kevin Stefanski arrived and Anthony Schwartz has struggled to be the vertical threat they need. Mims has the ability to be the speed and explosion out of the slot position.
Mims creates plenty of separation and yards after the catch with an open field around him to create explosive plays. He has reliable hands and tracks the ball really well in the air to make the plays downfield. He also has experience returning kicks as an explosive player that can help win the field position battle.
Cleveland Browns Fourth-Round Pick No. 109: Lukas Van Ness, DL, Iowa
The Browns have been unable to consistently produce any pressure from the middle of the defensive line. They haven’t been able to push the pocket and create easy lanes for quarterbacks to step up in the pocket or take off for yardage. Drafting Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness will help solve that issue creating more pressure in the passing game.
Van Ness is a big strong player that plays both inside and outside on the defensive line. In the past two seasons, Van Ness has produced 12.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss for the Hawkeyes. Good technique with his hands to shed blocks and good athleticism for his size makes him a great piece to add inside of Myles Garrett.
Cleveland Browns Fifth-Round Pick No. 130: Nick Broeker, OT, Mississippi
The Browns have the decision to make with left tackle Jedrick Wills in the coming offseason on whether or not they pick up his fifth-year option. Chris Hubbard is likely gone though the team did extend right tackle Jack Conklin they could use more depth at the position going forward.
Especially if they decide they don’t think Wills is the left tackle of the future they will need to find a replacement. Nick Broeker has plenty of experience after being a three-year contributor at Ole Miss running a lot of the same running schemes the Browns currently run. He has great short-area quickness that he backs up with power and makes a great developmental tackle prospect.
Cleveland Browns Fifth-Round Pick No. 146: Ji’Ayir Brown, S, Penn State
Grant Delpit has shown a ton of improvement since Week 8 with the team but outside of that, the safety room hasn’t been very good this season. Ji’Ayir Brown is a two-year starter for the Nittany Lions who has a knack for making the big play from his safety spot.
In 2021 Brown had six interceptions returning one for a touchdown followed by three interceptions this season. Brown has great ball skills and speed to move sideline to sideline in the back half of the secondary.
Cleveland Browns Sixth-Round Pick No. 185: Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio State
The Browns’ linebacker room was decimated with injuries this season and with several contributors also in the final year of their deal. This season for Ohio State Tommy Eichenberg has been everywhere on the field for the Buckeyes as a tackling machine. The Browns could use a young linebacker that is a sure tackler in the middle of the defense. This season Eichenberg has 112 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and one interception.
The Browns will likely bring in a veteran to start at the middle linebacker spot that Eichenberg could learn from. He has an above-average football IQ that he uses to diagnose the play in front of him and the athleticism to react well to what he sees.
Cleveland Browns Seventh-Round Pick No. 226- T.J. Bass, IOL, Oregon
Another position that has seen a lot of injuries is the interior offensive line which has seen multiple players play at right guard and center. The team will get back last year’s seventh-round pick Dawson Deaton from injury but adding another interior player like T.J. Bass makes a lot of sense for the Browns. Bass is another player that has experience in the type of scheme the Browns have and is a good candidate to be developed by offensive line coach Bill Callahan.