It’s been a great off-season for the Cleveland Browns. This week, Browns GM Andrew Berry and the team’s front office will put the icing on the cake for the 2021 Brown’s roster. It’s draft week. It’s draft week in the CLE. So let’s fire up my last seven round Browns mock draft of the season. I still don’t think the Browns will use all nine of their 2021 draft picks, I’m thinking around six or seven. Andrew Berry will turn those picks into talent this year or in future years. Let’s do this.
26. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, S, Notre Dame.
59. Payton Turner, Edge, Houston.
89. Ben Cleveland, OT, Georgia
91. Alim McNeill, DT, N.C. State.
110. Trill Williams, CB, Syracuse
132. Jaelon Darden, WR, North Texas.
169. Marvin Wilson, DT, Florida State.
211. Shemar Jean-Charles, CB, Appalachian State.
257. Darrick Forrest, Jr., S, Cincinnati.
I based this draft on the fact the Browns have talked to most of these players, a few a couple of times. First thing you’ll notice is I selected JOK of Notre Dame at pick 26. I know I’ve said the Browns won’t take a linebacker with the first pick, however in DC Joe Wood’s scheme he would be a safety. JOK is a versatile and disruptive player. Because other teams might not know where to play him, he may drop. I do feel the Browns will take an offensive lineman somewhere in this draft. They’re interested in the star of the Senior Bowl Quinn Meinerz from Wisconsin-Whitewater, but I think they like DE Payton Turner from Houston better in the second round. They also like OT Ben Cleveland from Georgia, so I selected him with the Browns first third round pick. If no offensive linemen are drafted, then look for the Browns to go after OT Sam Cooper from Merrimack as an undrafted free agent, as well as safety Derrick Forest from Cincinnati if the Browns trade their seventh round pick.
In last Friday’s meeting with the Cleveland media, Browns GM Andrew Berry said his draft board consists of 168 players, 114 deemed draftable and 54 deemed priority undrafted players. With a draft that has 259 picks either Berry is going to run out of draftable players or Berry is confident the 114 players will be on the board throughout the draft. Also, two things to remember when it comes to trades. The price has already been set for a big trade up with the trades by San Francisco, Miami and Philadelphia. It might be too expensive. Second, trading out of the first round. Most NFL General Managers like to pick in the first round because of the contracts. First round picks receive four year contracts with a fifth year team option. Second round picks receive four year deals. Teams like to control a first round pick in their fifth year. Think TE David Njoku.
Let me know what you think, all opinions are welcome. It’s going to be a fun draft. Everyone stay safe, get vaccinated and Go Browns.