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Cleveland Browns should plan to trade out of Day 3 in 2023 NFL Draft

By Elliot Kennel

May 14, 2021; Berea, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski (left) watches camp with general manager Andrew Berry during rookie minicamp at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2021; Berea, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski (left) watches camp with general manager Andrew Berry during rookie minicamp at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Browns, James Hudson
Browns, James Hudson. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sportss /

Browns 2021 Day 3 studs and duds

2021 saw almost no positive contribution from Day 3 rookies. There were five players drafted on Day 3 that year. They were: James Hudson (Round 4), Tommy Togiai (Round 4), Tony Fields (Round 5), Richard LeCounte (Round 5), and Demetric Felton (Round 6). None of them stood out in a good way.

Hudson had some success filling in for Jack Conklin in his second year, but as a rookie, he was manhandled, particularly in the infamous Steelers game in which Baker Mayfield was sacked nine times. Hudson tried his best to fill in for Conklin, but T.J. Watt was too much to handle that day. Hudson might be starting material in 2023, but not in 2021, he wasn’t.

Fields missed 2021 due to injuries.

Demetric Felton caught 20 passes in 2021, but his four fumbles caused him to lose favor with the coaching staff. Nobody who fumbles four times can be called a stud. Not surprisingly, he didn’t play much in 2022, especially after he fumbled again early on. He may have a future in the slot, but hold on to the luggage, please.

Safety Richard LeCounte was let go, and when last seen was a member of the Los Angeles Rams practice squad.

Togiai has been consistently ranked at the bottom of his profession by the graders at Pro Football Focus. You never know with defensive linemen, because no one is ever at 100 percent. It would be fair to say that the Browns had projected a certain level of improvement for him in 2022 and did not get what they were expecting.

So far he has not justified keeping a roster spot open for him based on his production, although people at 76 Lou Groza Blvd still believe he will develop into an NFL lineman.

In short, there were only rookie duds from Round 3 of the 2021 NFL draft. Two players have improved to become borderline contributors in 2022 and might develop further in 2023.

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