It’s NFL Draft Week.

Happy NFL draft week for those who celebrate. Now begins the complete nonsense of leaks about players falling or rising on team’s draft boards. Some are from teams hoping a player will fall to them, some are from agents hoping a team will get desperate and trade up for their clients. I can’t think of any rational person who thinks Will Levis or Anthony Richardson is a better quarterback then C.J. Stroud. I’ve seen all three play and Stroud is much better then the other two. I know why teams like Bryce Young. He’s said to have the “it” factor, but so did Baker Mayfield coming out of college.

As for the Browns, their first pick isn’t until the eleventh pick in the third round. Doing mock drafts for the Browns is not easy this year, but if certain positions are drafted with pick 74 and 98, then it will tell me certain players might need to get their resumes updated. If a defensive tackle is taken with pick 74, the Browns might be tired of Perrion Winfrey’s act. I’ve said in previous blogs the Browns could roll out a 53-man roster without drafting a single player. Of course, they’re going to draft players, to help with depth and future starters. Right now, they could add rookies to the running back room, the defensive line room, the wide receiver’s room and linebacker’s room.

A lot has been made of the fact that Browns GM Andrew Berry hasn’t drafted pro-bowl players. I don’t care about that; all I care about is wins. I could care less if CB Martin Everson makes the Pro Bowl and takes part in the balloon toss. Speaking of Everson, he was a great third round pick that no one saw coming, and I mean no one. He was targeted 89 times, never gave up 81 yards in a game and never gave up over 23 yards in YAC. Thanks to @tha_buffalo for those stats.

I’ve also said in previous blogs, that Berry would trade for future picks, both in 2024 & 2025. I’m not sure he’ll only draft five players. He might draft eight players and still get future picks. I’m very intrigued with picks 140 & 142. Could Berry just sit there and pick up two players the team desires or trade one of those picks to move up slightly or down slightly. As for next year, the Browns have seven picks in 2024.

Some players I like: WR, Marvin Mims, WR Tyler Scott, RB Tyjae Spears, RB Tank Bisby, RB Zach Evans, TE Brenton Strange, TE Davis Allem, DE Derick Hall, DE Isaiah McGuire, DT Karl Brooks, DT Moro Ojomo, LB Dorian Williams, LB Ivan Pace, CB Kei’Trel Clark, CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, S Rashad Torrence and S Brandon Hill.

During the draft on Friday and Saturday, I’ll be joining my fellow team mates on The Fanatical Elfz Network. Enjoy the draft, stay safe and Go Browns.

News & Notes.

The first off-season programs have begun in Berea. I love watching the videos of the players walking into the facility. It tells me Browns football is right around the corner. As all NFL fans wait for the draft next week, there’s still news happening. Let’s go.

Player Signings. Prior to the players reporting, it was announced wide receiver Marquise Goodwin signed his contract. It’s a one-year deal worth $1.7 million. He has a signing bonus of $250,000 and a guaranteed salary of $150,000. The $400,000 in guarantees makes him a lock to make the roster, barring injury. It was also announced guard Michael Dunn, cornerback Thomas Graham, Jr. and defensive tackle Ben Stille signed one-year contracts. Currently the Browns have $7.1 million in cap room with $9.75 million (John Johnson, IIII) and $1.65 million (Jadeveon Clowney) added to the cap after June 1.

New Stadium. Browns twitter exploded yesterday with the news the team might have to play in another city while a renovated or new stadium is being built. Not. Going. To Happen. Are the Haslam’s and the city discussing stadium plans? Yes. The key to the deal is the redevelopment of north shore and a land bridge from downtown to the north shore. The Browns have nothing to do with the land bridge, that’s the city’s responsibility. I’ll wait until there’s an official announcement from the city and the Browns. Anything being reported now is baseless speculation. If I were to guess, the stadium project construction will be staggered to not interrupt football season. This is the NFL and cash is king. The Browns will not be playing in Columbus or a smaller stadium.

Free Agency. The Browns still need to address a couple of positions, defensive end and safety. I know they could draft some players, but it makes more sense to sign some veterans. The price will come down after the draft. Players to watch: DE: Carlos Dunlap, Dante Fowler, Melvin Ingram. S: Adrian Amos, Rodney McLeod, Andrew Adams, Joshua Kalu. They still need a number three safety and a rotational edge rusher.

Watch for my mock drafts at https://clesportstalk.com/ I’ve done two and will have another on this week and my final mock next week. Also watch the shows on the Fanatical Elfz Network, http://@ElfzNetwork. The next one I’ll be on will probably drop Friday. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Browns Draft-Players To Watch.

As I said in previous blogs, Browns GM Andrew Berry will not use all eight picks the team has in the 2023 NFL draft. He might use picks to move around in this year’s draft, but more than likely he’ll use them to acquire future draft picks. Because the Browns addressed various needs in free agency, I’m of the opinion the most likely positions that will be draft are, running back, wide receiver, tight end, edge, linebacker, safety and offensive tackle. So what players should you be watching for?

Day Two (picks 74 & 98). Running backs: Duce Vaughn, Kansas State, Roschon Johnson, Texas, Tyjae Spears, Tulane.

Day three picks (111, 126, 140, 142, 190 & 229). Running backs: Zach Evans Ole Miss, Chase Brown, Illinois, Kenny McIntosh, Georgia, Keaton Mitchell, East Carolina.

Day Two. Wide Receivers: Josh Downs, North Carolina, Tyler Scott Cincinnati, Marvina Mims, Oklahoma, Nathaniel Dell, Houston.

Day Three. Wide Receivers: Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss, Jaylen Reed, Michigan State, Trey Palmer, Nebraska, Parker Washington, Penn State.

Day Two. Tight Ends: Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan.

Day Three. Tight Ends: Zach Kuntz, Old Dominion, Camerom Lata, Alabama, Brenton Strange, Penn State.

Day Two. Edge: Derick Hall Auburn, Andre Carter, Army, Zach Harrison, Ohio State, Byron Young, Tennessee.

Day Three. Edge: YaYa Diaby, Louisville, K.J. Henry Clemson, Brenton Cox, Florida.

Day Two. Linebackers: Henry To’oto’o, Alabama, Noah Sewell, Oregon, Jack Campbell, Iowa.

Day Three. Linebackers: Nick Herbig, Wisconsin, Owen Pappoe, Auburn, Yasir Abdullah, Louisville, Cam Jones, Indiana.

Day Two. Safety: Sidney Brown, Illinois, James Robinson, Florida State, Chris Smith, Georgia.

Day Three. Safety: Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame, Ronnie Harrisson Ohio State, Jarvis Martin, Illinois.

Day Two. Offensive Tackle: Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse, Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland.

Day Three. Offensive Tackles: Nick Suldiver, Old Dominion, Ryan Hayes, Michigan, Jaxson Kirkland, Washington, Warren McClendon, Georgia.

The most likely positions for day two are wide receiver, safety and edge. The rest would be more likely on day three, with tight end and offensive tackle late on day three. Remember it’s all about the value. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Browns Draft Strategy.

The Browns currently have eight draft picks for the 2023 NFL draft. Picks number 74, 98, 111, 126, 140, 142, 190 & 229. With the success of the 2023 free agency period, the team could roll out a 53-man roster right now without adding any more players. But they will draft players for depth. So what’s going to happen?

Trade Up Or Down. Browns GM Andrew Berry rarely trades up. If a player the team really covets falls late into the second round, he might pull the trigger. The more likely scenario is trading down to accumulate more picks in the 2024 & 2025 draft. The Browns will still be in good shape in 2024 with the salary cap, however in 2025 there might be some problems due to current contracts. Berry always trades current picks for future picks.

Current Roster. Looking at the contacts the current free agents have signed, if a player has guaranteed money, the Browns are anticipating the player is making the roster. An example is quarterback Josh Dobbs. He signed to a two-year, $2 million contract fully guaranteed. Dobbs will be on the roster this year and the next. Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst has no guarantees, he’s fighting for a roster spot.

Team Visits. It’s being reported which draftable payers are taking visits to the team facility in Berea. This isn’t a sign these players will be drafted. Andrew Berry likes to use these visits to show potential undrafted rookie free agents the Browns are interested in them if they go undrafted. Cornerback A.J. Green is a perfect example. He went undrafted and signed with the with the Browns shortly after the draft.

Tonight, I’ll be part of podcast on the Fanatical Elfz Network, http://@ElfzNetwork with my good friend John Suchan, http://@JohnSuchan to discuss the Browns draft strategy. Also, my first mock draft will be published soon on Cleveland Sports Talk, http://@CLEsportsTalk. Tune in and look for my article. Stay safe and Go Browns.