Browns add dynamic weapons early in latest 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft

With the NFL offseason well underway as the "legal tampering" period of free agency has begun, the Cleveland Browns and general manager Andrew Berry are brainstorming ways to improve their roster in order to compete for a Super Bowl.

After making one of the biggest splashes of all time last offseason by signing quarterback Deshaun Watson, the time is now to turn this Cleveland franchise into a winner. Particularly after re-working the record contract that Watson received to create $35 million in cap space, the Browns must capture the moment and round out this roster.

While the biggest moves are always more likely to come in free agency or via trade, especially for a team that does not have a first-round pick, the NFL Draft is where a general manager really pulls their weight. Bringing in big-name, impactful veterans will be vital to the team's success, but rounding out a roster with talent and depth through the draft can take the franchise to another level.

In this exercise, the Browns land two explosive offensive weapons early on, while adding valuable depth throughout the roster.

Cleveland Browns Round 2, Pick 43: Darnell Washington, Tight End, Georgia

Darnell Washington is an absolutely HUGE human being, at 6-foot-7 and 264 pounds. Browns fans think David "Chief" Njoku is big, but his 6-foot-4, 247 pounds frame pales in comparison to the 21-year old Georgia Bulldog.

Nonetheless, pairing the two would be an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses. These guys can both absolutely impose their will, whether it is blocking the run game or going up for a jump ball. While the Browns are expected to deploy more wide receivers in an anticipated "spread" offense in 2023, the impact that a duo of powerful tight ends can have should not be overlooked.

Specifically, with Washington, he's a dominant blocker, something that is rare with young tight ends. He moves defenders with ease and showed that with comparison at the Combine:

What Washington can also do, it make some very impressive catches. You can see on tape that if you deliver the ball in his general area, he is likely going to come down with the catch. He showed this as well at the Combine with an eye-popping one-handed snag:

Now Washington isn't the most fleet of foot and isn't the smoothest route runner, but he still brings a lot to the table as a receiver. His big frame shield off defenders, his hands are second-to-none, and he is an absolute tank to bring down with the ball in his hands. His stats at Georgia are not notable at all, but you can see the impact he had on tape. Further, at UGA he was paired with another top tight end in Brock Bowers. He would be able to fill a similar role alongside Njoku in Cleveland.

Browns fans may be appalled at the thought of selecting a tight end with their first pick in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft, given the team's current needs and holes in their roster. But I believe that is what free agency and trades are for.

They have already addressed center and defensive tackle, and I think it is only a matter of time before they add a safety as well. to a point, fill all of the holes that you have prior to the NFL Draft, giving you flexibility when picking players. The Draft should be used to add the best, most talented players, regardless of need, and it would be hard to pass on the upside of Washington.

Cleveland Browns Round 3, Pick 98: Tyler Scott, Wide Receiver, Cincinnati

This selection should be much more well-received by Browns fans. Many are dying for Cleveland to add a receiver early in the Draft, and the speed that Tyler Scott brings to the table should prove to be a perfect fit.

A fellow Northeast Ohio native, Scott has expressed his desire to play in Cleveland, which is always notable when it comes to the Browns. Scott was productive for the Bearcats in 2022, setting career-highs with 54 catches, 899 receiving yards, and 9 touchdowns as a junior, making him a younger prospect like the Browns typically desire "early" in drafts.

What pops off the tape with Scott is his ability to take the top off of the defense. His speed is evident when watching him play, that people were actually quite disappointed when he ran a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash:

However, there is no question that Scott just has another gear when he is on the football field. He would add a completely new dimension to this Browns offense that they have been severely lacking. He is smooth down the field with his route running and is extremely dangerous with the ball in his hands.

The big difference between Scott and what the Browns currently have as the "speed" threat on their roster is his hands. Scott is not only a smart player with a good understanding of the defense, but he is a reliable target with impressive hands and catching ability.

Adding both Washington and Scott to an already very talented Cleveland offense would be huge to elevate the Browns to another level. Deshaun Watson must play at an extremely high level if the teams want to compete in the AFC, so the team must do everything they can to set him up for success.

Already with a top offensive line and rushing attack, providing Watson with two more dynamic targets can elevate this offense to a truly elite level.

Cleveland Browns Round 4, Pick 111: Noah Sewell, Linebacker, Oregon

To be completely honest, Noah Sewell isn't one of my favorite prospects in this draft class. But what he does bring to the table seems to be a perfect fit for what the Browns need right now in their linebacker room.

Right now, Cleveland has some very rangy, athletic linebackers, that are slightly undersized. What they are lacking is a bigger body that can take on blockers and make tackles in the run game. Cleveland was atrocious last year against the run and that starts up front with the defensive line, but having some more physical backers can certainly help the cause as well.

Sewell is a very limited athlete, which shows on tape and with his testing. He does not have that sideline-to-sideline speed that teams look for in a linebacker, and he doesn't have the agility and fluidity to stay with receivers in man coverage.

However, Sewell does do a few things really well. He's a very smart and instinctive player, allowing him to be in the right place at the right time in passing lanes (nine pass deflections in his last two seasons). He's also a fairly effective pass rusher, using his size and power to take on blockers whether rushing off the edge or blitzing up the middle.

Sewell isn't a solve-all centerpiece for the Cleveland linebacking corps, but his 6-foot-3, 250 pound frame and physical style of play gives them something that they are lacking right now with just Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jacob Phillips and Anthony Fields on the roster and set to play on opening day (Sione Takitaki appears to be coming back on a one-year deal, but will likely miss some time to start the year coming off of an ACL injury).

Round 4, Pick 126: Jartavius Martin, Safety, Illinois

I prefaced the last selection as *not* one of my favorite players in the 2023 NFL Draft, but right now this guy might be my absolute favorite prospect in the entire class.

I watched the Illinois defensive tape in depth before the Combine began. The two players receiving the most hype were obviously top corner Devon Weatherspoon, and other safety Sydney Brown. But the one player that jumped off the screen to me was Jartavius Martin.

On film, there wasn't anything that Martin couldn't do. Up near the line of scrimmage, he was willing and able to move downhill and tackle ballcarriers in the open field. He had rep after rep in man coverage that he used his fluidity and length to either completely close the passing window or make an easy play on the ball. Finally, and most relevant to the Browns right now, his he used outstanding instincts and closing speed to cover tons of ground when playing deep in zone coverage.

Just when I thought I was about as high as I could have been on Martin as a prospect, and as a fit for the Browns, and then he went and put on an absolute CLINIC at the Combine. In this article detailing 5 safety prospects who could potentially replace John Johnson III, Martin was third among safeties with a 40-yard dash time of 4.46 seconds, had the FASTEST 10-yard split at 1.47, the HIGHEST vertical jump at 44 inches, and the LONGEST broad jump at 11-feet-1.

Martin is an excellent player, and a better athlete. Especially if the Browns do not address the glaring need at free safety, Martin would be a perfect option to slide right in and complement Grant Delpit.

Cleveland Browns Round 5, Pick 142: Wanya Morris, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma

The Browns picked up left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.'s fifth-year option earlier this offseason, but it wasn't an obvious choice, and there is still some uncertainty as to whether or not he is the future at the position for the team.

If the team likes the potential of a mid-to-late round tackle prospect, they would be wise to take a flier on one. If the traits are promising enough that the front office thinks the player can develop into a starter with proper coaching, Bill Callahan can provide that direction.

There's no telling who the front office may value, but in this exercise they go with a 6-foot-5, 307 pound Oklahoma Sooner who has experience at both left and right tackle. Worst case, Wanya Morris can serve as a depth option at tackle, with the upside and potential to grow into a starting role with the guidance of a coach like Callahan.

Cleveland Browns Round 5, Pick 144: Jaquelin Roy, Defensive Tackle, LSU

Jaquelin Roy is another player that I really like in the 2023 NFL Draft. He is 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds with the size, strength and motor to play early and often, at multiple different positions, for the Browns.

What really impressed me with Roy is his ability against the run. He plays even bigger than his frame, easily manipulating blockers and using great vision and recognition to make proper moves towards the ball carrier. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein actually compares Roy to Dalvin Tomlinson, who the Browns just signed in free agency, presumably because of his prowess against the run.

Roy has obviously been on my radar for a while now and would be a steal in the fifth round, but he was available with this selection in the mock that I did use the NFL Mock Draft Database Mock Draft Simulator. He is a player that I think has a ton of potential and someone that I would love the Browns to come away with at any point in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Cleveland Browns Round 6, Pick 192: Jaren Hall, Quarterback, BYU

As the Browns roster currently stands, Kellen Mond is the lone quarterback after Deshaun Watson on the depth chart. As someone who was not high on Mond at all when he came out of Texas A&M, I would love to see Cleveland add a veteran back-up that could start if, God forbid, something were to happen to Watson, but also a young quarterback in the Draft to grow and develop.

Jaren Hall was one of my favorite quarterbacks to watch in this draft class, and has a ton of upside. He is very effective on the move, making some eye-popping plays on tape. He's a solid runner of the football but does a great job at escaping the pocket and keeping his eyes down the field.

Hall, like many quarterback prospects, needs to be more consistent with his accuracy. As many times as you find yourself saying "WOW" when watching him make impressive plays, you find yourself going "WTH" with some bad misses.

Hall operated a spread, shotgun offense at BYU, similar to what the Browns are expected to deploy this season, and going forward. If Cleveland has learned anything from other teams across the league, it is never a bad idea to take a flier on a quarterback that you like in the draft, even if you already have a bonafide starter.

There's no way of predicting that Hall can turn out as the next Brock Purdy, Dak Prescott, or Jalen Hurts, but drafting and developing a quarterback should only help your franchise moving forward.

Round 7, Pick 231: Keondre Coburn, Defensive Tackle, Texas

With the last pick of this 2023 NFL Mock Draft, the Browns add another big-ole boy at defensive tackle, ensuring that their defensive front can finally stop the run moving forward.

Keondre Coburn is 6-foot-2 and 332 pounds and surprisingly athletic for his size. He is a true nose tackle with all the power that you desire, but also with the block shedding to penetrate and make plays in the backfield.

It may seem like a lot to add both Roy and Coburn after Cleveland already added Tomlinson in free agency, but they provide valuable depth at a position that is often rotated throughout the game. Going into 2023, the Browns would have Tomlinson, Perrion Winfrey, Jordan Elliott, Tommy Togiai, Roy, and Coburn.

That seems like a deep and well-rounded defensive tackle room, with the futures of Elliott and Togiai to be determined. A position of need, finally completely addressed.