For the third year in a row — and hopefully, the last for a long time — the Cleveland Browns were without a pick in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. As they sat out, they saw 14-straight offensive players picked and witnessed the Cincinnati Bengals make a questionable selection at No. 18.
Now, they prepare to go from spectator to participant on Day 2 as the Browns have pick No. 56 and No. 85. As is always the case, there's still plenty of talent on the board and here's a look at some of the best remaining prospects.
Ja'Tavion Sanders, Tight End, Texas
Tight end isn't a major need for the Browns with David Njoku coming off a monster campaign. The former first-round pick had 81 receptions for 882 yards with six touchdowns — all career highs.
Behind him is Jordan Akins, who wasn't wildly productive in 2023 but is still a savvy veteran. Third on the depth chart is Giovanni Ricci, who was signed in the offseason to replace Harrison Bryant. Ricci is more of an H-back though, who has spent time at fullback as well.
Cleveland could look to bring someone in during the draft as a new TE3, or they could look for someone capable of pushing Akins. If this is the route they chose, Ja'Tavion Sanders from Texas would be an interesting option.
Sanders is 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds and has been compared to Njoku during the draft process. He's a polished route-runner with incredibly powerful hands. He ran a 4.69 in the 40-yard dash and would give head coach Kevin Stefanski the dangerous tight end duo he's been looking for since being hired in 2020.
Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale
Jedrick Wills is entering his fifth season with the Browns and it's likely this will also be the last. Cleveland was able to restructure his contract to free up cap space this year, but there's no indication they want to extend him. Their actions hint at replacing him instead with the front office spending a lot of time with offensive tackles during the scouting process. One of those was Kiran Amegadjie from Yale.
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 318 pounds, Amagedjie started at guard but spent the past two seasons at left tackle and was phenomenal. He gave up just four hurries and no sacks in 2022 and five hurries and no sacks in 2023 — although he was sidelined in October after suffering a torn quad.
Amegadjie couldn't work out at the NFL Combine but met with Cleveland ahead of the draft. He would be an ideal fit who could spend 2024 as the backup tackle, which would be an upgrade over James Hudson III. He could then slide into the starting role in 2025 and provide a more consistent pass protector on the blindside.
This class is loaded at offensive line and Amegadjie would have likely been a first-round pick in a normal year. The talent at the position, his injury, and the lack of elite competition mean he's likely to be on the board at No. 54 which would be a huge win for Cleveland.
Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
Defensive players weren't popular at all in Round 1, with the first 14 picks being dedicated to offensive additions. The Indianapolis Colts picked up UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu which got the ball rolling as a few defenders began to come off the board.
Still, there are more than enough options available on Day 2 if that's the direction the Browns want to go. One potential target could be Kris Jenkins, a defensive tackle from Michigan.
Jenkins is a 6-foot-3, 305-pounder who has been criticized for his lack of lenghth. Even with shorter arms, he was a great player for the Wolverines, capable of stopping the run and the pass.
"Jenkins is one of the strongest players in the draft. He is a run stopper at heart who is most comfortable and confident holding the line. His run-stop percentage ranks in the 99th percentile due to how well he can hold up against double teams and control one-on-one run-blocking situations." — PFF Draft Profile
Cleveland has a strong defensive line with Maurice Hurst, Jr. and Shelby Harris. Hurst, however, is signed for just one year and Harris is approaching his mid-30s and under contract through 2025. Adding Jenkins would give them a three-down player who could line up as the 3-tech for the foreseeable future.
Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
There are several wideouts still available who could make an impact in the NFL but one that has an incredibly high ceiling is Malachi Corley from Western Kentucky.
Colrey measures in at 5-foot-11 and 221 pounds but didn't work out at the NFL Combine. Had he done so, he likely would have turned a lot of heads due to his athleticism. It might have helped improve his draft stock but he's still seen as a Round 2 pick — or early Round 3 at the latest.
While at Western Kentucky, Corley proved to be a highlight waiting to happen. He might not be overly tall but he's powerful and built like a running back. He turns into one when the ball's in his hands as well, as he racked up yards after the catch at an impressive rate.
In four seasons, Corley had 3,035 yards with 29 touchdowns. He did have issues with drops and was force-fed often which may have padded his numbers. He will need to refine his route-running but in Cleveland, he would be able to grow alongside Amari Cooper, who is one of the best in the NFL.
Corley has been compared to Deebo Samuel and is one of the wideouts Cleveland brought in for a top-30 visit. If he's there at 54, there's a good chance his name is the one we hear.