All eyes will be on Detroit, Michigan for the 2024 NFL Draft from Thursday, April 25 through Saturday, April 27. The Cleveland Browns are once again without a first-round pick, so barring a trade, they'll be spectators on Thursday.
Their first pick this year is No. 54 overall and if they keep the selection, it will be the first time they drafted in Round 2 since 2021. In this mock draft, they stay put with this one but make a trade in Round 3 that would lead to instant criticism.
Round 2, Pick 54: Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
At first glance, it might seem Cleveland is set at the wide receiver position with Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, and Elijah Moore. However, only Jeudy is under contract beyond this season and Cooper turns 30 in June. Throw in the injury concerns he's had recently and receiver could be a sneaky selection at No. 54 and here, they land an intriguing one in Malachi Corley.
The Browns met with the Western Kentucky prospect, as have many other teams. He's been compared to Deebo Samuel due to his stature (5-foot-11 and 210 pounds) and ability to rack up yards after the catch.
Malachi Corley 76 yard house call 🏠 @WKUFootball pic.twitter.com/YBjVohGe4u
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) September 24, 2022
A former running back, Corley is still learning to be a better route-runner and will have time to develop with three capable pass-catchers ahead of him. Even without being a technician, he can make an impact as a slot receiver who can turn a short pass into a huge gain. Corley could develop into that game-changer Andrew Berry has been trying to land in the draft for the past several years.
Round 3, Pick 93: Dominick Puni, OT, Kansas
There's a chance the Browns listen to offers throughout the night and this time, they take the deal — even though it will lead to frustration in the fan base.
Cleveland sends their third-round pick (No. 85) to the Baltimore Ravens for their third (No. 93) as well as a fourth-round selection (No. 130). It's considered a cardinal sin to trade within the division but the Ravens will find a way to get what they want. At least in this scenario, the Browns take a pick from them.
With the 93rd pick, Cleveland adds Dominick Puni, who would have been our target at 85 anyway. Cleveland has a strong need for offensive line help and Puni played left guard and left tackle for the Jayhawks. The Browns would prefer he play tackle and will spend 2024 preparing him to replace Jedrick Wills the following season.
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds, Puni was excellent against the run. He's showcased his power on many occasions and improved drastically from 2022 to 2023. Despite playing better at tackle than guard, analysts want to move him inside.
Cleveland will allow him to prove he can perform at left tackle before making him switch to guard. If he continues to develop as he did last year, they could wind up being thrilled with that decision.
Round 4, Pick 130: Jordan Magee, LB, Temple
Cleveland originally didn't have a pick in Round 4, which is why their decision to make a deal with the devil was a good idea. They've done well building their roster but have a couple of spots in need of depth — with linebacker standing out as a potential weakness.
With this extra pick, the Browns target Jordan Magee from Temple. At 6-foot-1 and 228 pounds, Magee doesn't have the ideal size for the position and sometimes plays too aggressively. He's been guilty of playing without patience but could be another dangerous weapon for Jim Schwartz if he can get him on track.
Round 5, Pick 156: Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson
In 2023, Cleveland took Siaki Ika in the third round and his first season was the equivalent of a redshirt campaign. He appeared in four games but registered no tackles. Ika has the build to play nose tackle but needs to get it all figured out to find success.
The Browns are hopeful he will have made a leap this season but need to protect themselves with another run-stuffing D-tackle. That's why Tyler Davis from Clemson is the choice here.
Davis doesn't look the part of a nose tackle at 6-foot-2 and 301 pounds but he was a beast against the run for the Tigers. This past season, PFF gave him a 90.8 grade in run defense — which is still one of the areas of concern for Cleveland.
Round 6, Pick 206: Rasheen Ali, RB, Marshall
With Nick Chubb still recovering from his knee injury, the Browns are expected to feature a heavy dose of D'Onte Foreman and Jerome Ford early in the season. They also have Nyheim Hines and Pierre Strong, Jr. — who each have special teams value as returners. What they don't have, is a long-term answer.
Chubb will turn 29 this December and now has two serious knee injuries in his rearview. He will also be a free agent in 2025 as will Foreman and Hines. Ford was given the reins in 2023 and while he did fine overall, he's best served working in a committee. All of that being said, Cleveland adds another name to the mix in Rasheen Ali from Marshall.
Ali is electric and had 3,338 yards from scrimmage with 42 touchdowns in his career. He's proven to be capable not only as a runner but also in the passing game. The problem is that he's also dealt with multiple injuries including a bicep tear suffered at the Senior Bowl. He could be a risky selection but it's worth the gamble at No. 26.
Round 7, Pick 227: Ryan Watts, CB, Texas
It's going to be hard for Andrew Berry to wait this long to draft a corner — and if a good one slides into Round 2, don't be shocked if he pulls the trigger. That's not how this mock falls though as they wait until Round 7, where they land Ryan Watts.
The Texas product is 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds and is better suited for man coverage than he is zone. He's also a strong run defender who spent time playing in the box during his career.