3 likely targets at each pick for the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Draft

2024 NFL Draft week is officially upon us! While the draft is, thankfully, no longer the proverbial "Super Bowl" for the Cleveland Browns, it is still a very important process for the franchise to round out its roster with hopes of finally getting to the real thing.

The Browns still lack a first-round pick following the trade for recovering quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is on the mend from a season-ending shoulder injury last season. The team is still fully committed to the 28-year-old veteran and will do everything in its power to put him in the best possible position to succeed.

Whether it be some more offensive weapons at his disposal, some depth along the offensive line to protect him, or some valuable pieces on the defensive side of the ball to help keep the team in games, Watson will certainly be in the minds of the decision-makers for the Browns come draft weekend.

Here, we utilize what we know from general manager Andrew Berry and the analytical front office and their tendencies when it comes to age and Relative Athletic Score (RAS), to highlight three potential prospects Cleveland could target with each of their six current selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. Berry, as he has shown in past drafts, will likely move around the draft board a bit, likely trying to recoup another top 100 pick this year or to stack another pick or two for next year's 2025 NFL Draft Class that has a chance to be a bit more talented and deep than this year's group of entrants.

If Berry and the Cleveland Browns pick where they are currently slotted to in the 2024 NFL Draft, I could see them targeting some of these prospects.

Round 2, Pick 54 overall

1. Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon

Even after trading for former Denver Broncos wide receiver, Jerry Jeudy, and signing him to a contract extension, the future of the wide receiver position is still very unclear for Cleveland.

The team still rosters recent draft picks at the position in Cedric Tillman, David Bell, and Michael Woods II, but none have been overly impactful in their varying amounts of time in Cleveland. The team acquired Elijah Moore in a trade last offseason, but he, like star wideout Amari Cooper, has not been signed long-term.

They certainly want to keep Cooper past this season, but who knows what price they would be willing to pay? Tillman is likely still a part of the plan for the organization but beyond 2024 there is a ton of uncertainty at the position. Adding a talented pass-catcher early in the 2024 NFL Draft could allow the team a little more flexibility moving forward, however, things play out.

Troy Franklin pops off the tape when you watch him play for the Oregon Ducks. The first word that comes to mind? FAST. While he didn't break the Combine 40-yard dash record like Texas receiver Xavier Worthy, his 4.41 unofficial time and 9.33 RAS is evident on tape. Defenders very rarely run down Franklin once he has the ball in his hands, and he is fast throughout the process of the route, pulling away downfield or suddenly breaking away for separation from the defender.

Franklin has a very slight frame, but he impresses at the catch point. This part of his game reminds me a lot of newly-extended Philadelphia receiver, Devonta Smith. His prowess with deep balls down the field and his top-end speed are reminiscent of a guy like Hollywood Brown, who was rumored to be a free agent target for the Browns this offseason.

Having a dynamic, down-the-field, speed receiver like Franklin to complement the true route runners in Cooper and Jeudy and the big-body bullies of Tillman and tight end David Njoku, could give Watson a well-rounded group of targets moving forward. With his RAS score, and being under 22 years old, if he is still on the board at pick 54, Cleveland could be jumping for joy.

2. Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas

Did I mention 2023 breakout star tight end David Njoku? There is a guy in the 2024 NFL Draft that reminds me a lot of him. While it may seem a little redundant to draft someone so similar to a player that you already have on the roster, when that player has a skillset like Njoku possesses, it is never a bad thing to have more of.

Ja'Tavion Sanders is a 6-foot-4 powerhouse who managed 600+ receiving yards each of his past two seasons with the Texas Longhorns, even with all of the talent that they have had at the running back and wide receiver positions during his time in Austin. While there were a couple of bad focus drops on tape, that will worry Browns fans who watched Njoku's first few seasons, Sanders made some truly incredible grabs. He is very effective catching the ball over the middle in traffic and nearly impossible to bring down by just one tackler with the ball in his hands.

While the Browns may continue shifting their offense to more of a spread, wide receiver-heavy, scheme, I doubt they completely move away from their beloved "12 personnel", featuring two tight ends on the field at the same time, any time soon.

Texas used Sanders a lot as a blocker in the run game, particularly as a puller with trap/wham-type blocks, which Cleveland will likely do as well. Tight end is certainly a weak point on the Browns' current depth chart, behind Njoku, and adding a 21-year-old with blocking ability and an 8.06 RAS score can certainly bolster the room and allow Sanders to fill out his frame while learning from one of the best in the game.

3. Michael Hall Jr., DL, Ohio State

This pick would please Ohioans everywhere, as a Streetsboro native, Ohio State Buckeye stays in the Buckeye State to play for the hometown Cleveland Browns. 6-foot-3, 290-pound Michael Hall, Jr. has a skillset that would be a near-perfect complement to starting defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and 2023 NFL Draft pick Siaki Ika.

When watching the film, Hall seems to live in the backfield. He loves to use a quick swim move off the snap to zoom right by a blocker and past the line of scrimmage. He has powerful hands that he can use to manipulate a blocker and to grab and bring down a ball carrier. If he continues to fill out his frame and really anchor against blocks and double-teams on early downs, he will undoubtedly become a three-down player at the next level.

Right now, Hall excels with his agility and athleticism. Whether he is bursting across the line of scrimmage or chasing down a ball carrier with his speed, Hall's athletic ability is on full display every time he steps on the field. His 9.24 RAS is evident on tape and at just 21 years old the local product is a near-perfect target for Cleveland. I've seen Hall come off the board prior to pick 54 in some mock drafts, and some he lasts until the Browns' next selection at 85, but if they want to lock him in they would probably want to snag him here in the second round.

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Round 3, Pick 85 overall

1. Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale

If there is one player in this 2024 NFL Draft class that makes sense as a target for this Cleveland Browns front office, it is Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie. Not only does he check the boxes for age and athleticism, but he also hails from the Ivy League, just as Berry, chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta, and head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Ask any Browns fan what they think about the play from the left tackle position over the last couple of years and you will see why this position is viewed as such a need in Cleveland. While the team picked up the fifth-year option of 2020 first-round draft pick Jedrick Wills Jr., it's hard to imagine he earns a long-term deal unless his level of play (and health) improves greatly in 2024.

The Browns have solid tackles on the roster with Wills, veteran Jack Conklin, 2023 breakout star Dawand Jones, swing tackle James Hudson, and veteran free agent additions Hakeem Adeniji and Germaine Ifedi, but none are a sure thing as the future blindside protector for Deshaun Watson. It would make sense for this analytical front office to have already crunched these numbers and to try to stay a step ahead by adding the fellow Ivy Leaguer.

Amegadjie is still a very raw prospect, coming from a "lower-level" program compared to, say, Wills coming out of Alabama with SEC experience. It is hard to project how he will play at the highest level, but he certainly seems to have the tools to do so.

With his size (6-foot-5, 325 pounds), athleticism, and power, Amegadjie excelled at left tackle as well as right guard for the Bulldogs. That experience and versatility could help early in his professional career when needed as a fill-in while being groomed to be that franchise left tackle for years to come potentially.

2. Mekhi Wingo, DL, LSU

Mekhi Wingo is another defensive lineman who still fits the bill with the guardrails for the Browns but is built very differently than Michael Hall Jr. While Hall is a big and long player looking to fill out his frame at the next level, Wingo is shorter and more compact, but still quite the athlete. Like Hall, Wingo excels with his first step off the snap, beating the blocker to the spot and putting himself in position to make a play.

With his size and style of play, Wingo is a little reminiscent of Pittsburgh defensive lineman Calijah Kancey who was drafted in the first round last year by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While he isn't quite the athlete that Kancey is, I think Wingo can hold his own a little better in the run game.

He may not have as high of a ceiling as someone like Kancey, or another "smaller" defensive tackle like Aaron Donald, but he is well-rounded and can contribute right away in the defensive line rotation for Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz.

3. Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee

Cleveland Browns fan-favorite, Nick Chubb, recently restructured his contract, pretty much securing his spot on the roster in 2024 and giving him a chance to earn his "pay-cut" in guarantees back in incentives based on his performance on the field. As hopeful as the team and the fanbase are for Chubb and his return, the team is smart to have multiple contingency plans in place, just in case things don't go exactly how everyone hopes.

For this season, I think the front office did a great job of making sure the team will be okay until Chubb can come back. Jerome Ford returns as likely the lead horse in the running back stable to start the season, after a very solid 2023 season once he was thrust into a larger role following Chubb's injury. They also added proven veterans in D'Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines to fill complementary roles. Foreman can be a workhorse back, if needed, but will likely be more of a short-yardage, goal-line back, while Hines is a third-down, receiving specialist, who also brings a lot to the return game.

So while the room has four very capable backs once Chubb is back, the future of the position is still a bit of a question mark. Foreman and Hines are on one-year deals and, like it or not, we really don't know what the future has in store for Chubb. If the Browns want to add another solid option that can bring an extra dynamic to the running back spot moving forward, Jaylen Wright will likely be their target.

He comes from the University of Tennessee, just like Owner Jimmy Haslam, so he surely has a leg up on the competition in the opinion of ownership. With the front office, he is just 21 years old with an extraordinary 9.82 RAS. That incredible athleticism and explosiveness is evident on tape. He runs away from entire defenses, in the SEC no less. He explodes through the hole, is shifty in the open field, and has homerun speed to find paydirt.

Playing mostly from the shotgun in Josh Heupel's offense, he will fit right in with what Stefanski and new Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey will likely be doing with Watson and the offense this season. Get a young, dynamic player like Wright with a highly-touted Running Backs Coach like newly-added Duce Staley and he may end up becoming a Nick Chubb-caliber player for Cleveland.

Round 5, Pick 156 overall

1. Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky

Sticking with the theme, Tevin Wallace from Kentucky enters the draft at just 21 years old and has one of the highest RAS of any linebacker in the 2024 NFL Draft class at 9.64. Again, that athleticism is very evident on tape when you watch Wallace, as he flies all around the field making plays.

Off-ball linebacker may seem like a bit of a "glaring" need for the Browns heading into the draft. They brought in a couple of veterans in Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush to play alongside star Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, but aside from Tony Fields, who has played well in spurts, and core special-teamer Mohamoud Diabate, they really lack depth, youth, and upside at linebacker.

However, the team rarely plays in a "base" defense with more than one or two backers on the field at any given time. So linebacker may not be as glaring of a need as it seems, but I could still see Cleveland wanting to add another option in this draft.

Wallace would be a great option and should fit well in Schwartz's defense. He has the range to chase down any ball carrier and has a ton of upside in coverage. He will need some coaching to be a reliable early-down player at the next level but his athletic upside and coverage potential could allow him to play all three downs once he grows as a player.

Worst case, Wallace can fly around and make plays on special teams and in spots on coverage downs while he works with Schwartz and Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver to potentially carve out an every-down role moving forward.

2. Qwan'tez Stiggers, CB, CFL

The story of the 2024 NFL Draft has to be Qwan'tez Stiggers. Having never played college football (dropping out before playing following the death of his father via car accident), Stiggers got back into football by playing in the Fan-Controlled Football League before making the move to the CFL where he was awarded Most Outstanding Rookie and is now entering the NFL Draft.

With the Toronto Argonauts, Stiggers exhibited impressive ball skills (snagging five interceptions) and a great willingness (and effectiveness) to tackle (50 tackles). Stiggers' size, instincts, and athleticism will make him a popular mid-round target with NFL teams. For the Browns, he is 22 years old with a 9.31 RAS. Cleveland has drafted a cornerback each of the past three years, so even with Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson, Greg Newsome III, and Cam Mitchell in the fold, Stiggers could be a great addition,

3. Jalyx Hunt, EDGE, Houston Christian

Jalyx Hunt is a little bit older than what the Cleveland Browns typically look for (just turned 23 years old), but he is built in the mold of exactly what Cleveland looks for in an edge rusher. Hunt, a former safety, is 6-foot-4 and about 250 pounds, with plenty of opportunity to fill out his frame at the next level.

Hunt's athleticism (9.13 RAS) makes him a very intriguing, small-school, prospect with playing experience in the Ivy League at Cornell. You never know how the production off the edge will translate from FCS to the NFL, but Hunt has the tools to make that transition. With his experience at safety and his coverage skills, Hunt could find a role on passing downs, providing some pass rush/coverage versatility to Schwartz's defense that relies heavily on multiplicity and disguise with their personnel.

Round 6, Pick 206 overall

1. Cedric Johnson, EDGE, Ole Miss

Much like Hunt, Cedric Johnson of Ole Miss is built like an NFL edge defender. He is incredibly explosive off the edge and tested incredibly well (9.67 RAS). Johnson has experience playing in the SEC and has shown flashes of power around the edge, as well, battling through blockers on the way to the quarterback.

Adding a speedy, explosive edge rusher is something I could see the Browns doing in this draft. Recently, the team has drafted the likes of Isaiah McGuire and Alex Wright, who are both bigger and stronger edge defenders. Getting someone younger in the mold of Ogbo Okoronkwo could really round out their rotation for this year and give them a flier on an athletic, talented, and toolsy player for the defensive staff to coach up.

2. Brandon Coleman, OL, TCU

If the Browns want to add some versatile offensive line depth, Brandon Coleman out of TCU could be the answer. At 23 years old, Coleman is a little older than Cleveland would prefer, but he has valuable experience and his whopping 9.98 RAS should more than make up for his age.

A captain in 2023 for the Horned Frogs, Coleman has played left tackle, left guard, and right guard in his college career, allowing him to fill in pretty much wherever needed for the Browns. With that sort of athletic ability and experience, Coleman should not have a problem finding a role at the next level.

3. A.J. Barner, TE, Michigan

A.J. Barner (aside from having a great name) has a lot of things going for him that could lead the Cleveland Browns to target him, especially at this point in the 2024 NFL Draft. Unlike Sanders, Barner is not a clone of David Njoku. But what Barner can offer that Njoku did not coming in as a first-round rookie is blocking. He is also from Aurora, Ohio.

Barner is no slouch catching the ball, making tough grabs in traffic, and fighting for extra yards with the ball in his hands. Even with a respectable 8.70 RAS, the 22-year-old former captain at Indiana is not going to be a great separator with his routes or run away from defenders in the open field, but he has a lot of quality traits for a primary backup, blocking tight end.

I think he fits that role in 12 personnel much better than Harrison Bryant, who left for Las Vegas in free agency, and Watson's old teammate from Houston, Jordan Akins, and would fill a big need as a huge steal at this point in the draft.

Round 7, Pick 227 overall

1. Daequan Hardy, CB, Penn State

Daequan Hardy was excellent on special teams for the Nittany Lions while at Penn State, and could do the same for the Cleveland Browns. Hardy is undersized at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds but isn't afraid to throw his body around. Combined with the ball skills and his athleticism (8.51 RAS), the 22-year-old could carve out a role as a nickel player in the Browns' sub-defense while being a core special teamer as a seventh-round pick.

2. Jalen Coker, WR, Holy Cross

If the Browns want another route-runner and separator for Watson to throw to, Jalen Coker could be the guy late in the draft. Coker isn't a burner with his speed, but still a very athletic player (9.46 RAS) who is very effective at the catch point. Coker looked good on tape against the higher-level competition of the ACC's Boston College in 2023.

Many will say that he was only productive because he played against lower-level competition but had the same players on his team. Getting Coker in an NFL offense with a high-caliber quarterback could unlock a lot of potential.

3. Joe Milton III, QB, Tennessee

Here we could have another Haslam selection from the University of Tennessee. Cleveland has been linked to quarterback Joe Milton III in the lead-up to the 2024 NFL Draft, and he could be a late-round option if the team really wants to keep adding to the room that already houses Watson, Jameis Winston, Tyler Huntley, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

I think they should focus on developing the guys they already have, but it's never a bad idea to draft and develop a quarterback you think can turn into something. If the coaching staff believes they can reign in and train the cannon of an arm that Milton possesses, maybe he can somehow factor into their future.

Round 7, Pick 243 overall

1. Charles Turner III, C, LSU

Yet another Ohio native (Canton, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame), Charles Turner III is a physical, but slightly built, center who tested well with his jumps and agility leading to a respectable 8.12 RAS. On film, Turner plays with enough tenacity and power to finish defenders to the ground and the athleticism that the Browns look for in offensive linemen.

Starting center Ethan Pocic hails from LSU, so Cleveland could look back to the Baton Rouge at the guy who snapped to the Heisman Trophy winner for some valuable depth.

2. Nathan Thomas, OT, Louisiana

At 6-foot-5, 330 pounds Nathan Thomas looks the part of an NFL offensive lineman. Unlike some of the more finesse and athletic offensive line prospects highlighted earlier, Thomas is a mauler. He wins with power and excels in the run game (still owning a respectable 7.04 RAS). He played left tackle the past two seasons, but has the build to fill-in inside with his size and power.

3. Gabe Hall, DT, Baylor

Gabe Hall is another very athletic defensive lineman with a huge frame that could fill in nicely at the next level. at 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds, Hall and his 9.25 RAS have a ton of tools that can be molded with NFL coaching.

He's far from reaching his potential but is a raw talent that could be very valuable this late in the draft.

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