The 2023 NFL Draft is in the books as the Cleveland Browns just added seven rookies to their roster. They didn't make their first pick until Round 3 but were on the clock often after that and made their share of impressive selections.
Here, we look back at each selection and assign a grade for the move.
Browns Draft Grades Round 3
I've calmed down about this pick and after hearing from those who understand the game more than myself, this grade has improved. Originally, this was scored a C+ since it felt as though the Browns could have gone with Josh Downs, who was a better player than Cedric Tillman during their collegiate days.
However, there are whispers that Tillman is the type of receiver Deshaun Watson asked for, and making the franchise quarterback happy is wise. Also, they're trying to protect themselves in case Donovan Peoples-Jones prices himself out of town. For that reason, it improves to a B-.
He's still a bit on the older side and had one year of production in five seasons. But the selection is understandable.
The reason this pick is so frustrating is that there's not much value here. Siaki Ika could end up being a solid nose tackle but the Chiefs added Keondre Coburn in Round 6, and it's not as if the difference between the two is that great.
Ika is a huge defensive tackle but he tested poorly in very single drill. We can excuse some, but not all.
While the grade stays low, the fact that Jim Schwartz is high on Ika gives me hope that I could be dead wrong. Here's to hoping Ika turns into the exact player this D-line needs, which is a run-stuffing monster.
Browns Draft Grades Round 4
If Friday night felt underwhelming to anyone, Saturday morning was the exact opposite. Cleveland got the day started out with a bang as they took Ohio State offensive tackle Dawand Jones at No. 111. Jones is a mammoth of a man at 6-foot-8 and 374 pounds.
He will need to get his weight down to last in the NFL but if he can do that, they landed a potential long-term starter to kick off the third day of the draft.
Jones should be able to take over as the swing tackle as a rookie, potentially pushing James Hudson down the depth chart.
In need of more depth at defensive end, the Browns used the 126th pick in this draft on Isaiah McGuire from Missouri. He's built for the position at 6-foot-4 and 268-pounds and had plenty of production in the SEC.
With the Browns, he's likely to play in a rotation but coming in on known passing situation could lead to him recording somewhere between five-to-seven sacks as a rookie.
Cleveland is set with Myles Garrett and Ogbo Okoronkwo as the starting defensive ends but adding McGuire along with Alex Wright will allow them to rotate their EDGE rushers more frequently — meaning they shouldn't overwork anyone.
Browns Draft Grades Round 5-6
With quarterbacks coming off the board in a hurry — there were 12 taken by the end of Round 5 which is a record — the Browns decided they had to react. They wound up taking Dorian Thompson-Robinson at No. 140 overall, which was the first of two picks in Round 5 for them.
DTR is an exciting quarterback who can run a similar offense to Deshaun Watson — which will be huge for them when it comes to practice. He's an exciting quarterback and while he might be a "run-first" player early in his career, he can develop into a solid No. 2 option.
On top of his ability to run the same offense as Watson, Thompson-Robinson will be a lot of fun to watch in the preseason this year.
With their second pick in the fifth, the Browns added Cameron Mitchell from Northwestern. He's listed at 5-foot-11 and 191 pounds. You would have liked to have seen the Browns bring in a cornerback who can play the slot but Mitchell is basically another outside option.
Some believe he could move to safety, which is a more pressing need.
Cleveland might have found a potential starter in Round 6 as they added Luke Wypler from Ohio State. He's an experienced center and could replace Nick Harris as the No. 2 option behind Ethan Pocic in 2024. He could also take Ethan Pocic's place when his contract runs out.
Wyoler wound up being the final pick for the Browns, who traded away pick No. 229, adding another selection in 2024.