Month: March 2024

Time for another mock draft, because I can’t get enough of this year’s draft, or any year’s draft for that matter. Again let me explain, the Browns draft for depth and future starters and not need. One of their core principles is never pay for depth and rookie contracts are the cheapest. The Browns currently have five picks in the 2024 NFL draft. one second round pick (54), one third round pick (85), one fifth round pick (156), one sixth round pick (206) and one seventh round pick (243). Browns GM Andrew Berry usually trades the team’s seventh round pick so the team can start contacting potential undrafted rookie free agents. So here goes.

Pick 54. Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale. Excellent run blocker and pass blocker. In pass sets, he adjusts his stance to the defender he is facing. After a year of development, he has the ability to be a very good starter in the league.

Pick 85. Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina. Because of his size (6-foot-2, 200 lbs.) and speed he is a vertical threat. He can turn overthrows into receptions. Can create explosive opportunities in the passing game. Averaged 30.7 yards per catch on touchdown receptions.

Pick 156. Josh Newton, CB, TCU. Can play man and cover two, as well as inside or out. Very physical at the catch point and will play run defense. He can quickly read the opposing quarterback. Played over 4000 snaps in his college career.

Pick 206. Marist Liufau, LB, Notre Dame. A traditional middle linebacker. Plays with violence. Has great football IQ and field awareness. He has good short area burst and attacks ball carriers and blockers. A nice day three pick who can play special teams.

Pick 243. A.J. Barner, TE, Michigan. An ideal number three tight end. Has good play strength as a run blocker and a receiver. Very comfortable as an in-line tight end. As a receiver, has the ability to separate on routes.

I love Kiran Amegadjie as a replacement for Jedrick Wills in 2025 and he’s had a visit with the Browns. He’s a name to watch if he drops. Devontez Walker could be a bigger and faster replacement for Elijah Moore who is still scheduled to be a free agent in 2025. Personally, I hope the Browns resign Moore. Josh Newton is a cornerback and Andrew Berry loves drafting cornerbacks. He can play on the outside and in the slot. You can never have enough corners and Berry has drafted some good ones. Marist Liufau is a football player. He’s strong and physical, something this run defense needs. Could replace Jordan Hicks in 2025. A.J. Barner is the perfect number three tight end, who could develop into a number two.

I like how this draft fell. Some fans would be upset the Browns took an offensive tackle at 54, but those same fans also complain about Jedrick Wills. I think I covered all the important positions. Just remember, Andrew Berry likes to trade down to gather more picks and he hardly ever uses his seventh-round pick. You can also find my articles at, https://www.fansfirstsports.com/teams/nfl/cleveland-browns/ and my podcasts at, http://@ElfzNetwork on twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Apple and all sites for your podcast needs. Let me know what you think. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Now that the first wave of free agency is over, it’s time to start playing with mock drafts. Browns GM Andrew Berry drafts for depth and future starters and not need. He’s only drafted for need once, his very first draft when the Browns selected LT Jedrick Wills. After that pick the Browns let the draft come to them. They have moved around in each draft and seldom use their seventh-round pick. The Browns will use it in packages to obtain future picks and use their time during the seventh round to call potential undrafted rookie free agents. Players like A.J. Green, D’Anthony Bell and Ronnie Hickman. This strategy seems to work. Currently the Browns have 71 players on their roster and will need to get to 90 prior to training camp. With only five draft picks, they don’t appear to be finished with free agency. Here’s my first mock draft.

Pick 54. Junior Colson, LB, Michigan. Colson is a quick strong linebacker. He can play both the run and is very good in coverage. Has excellent lateral movement. Can attack the open spaces and has the ability to get around offensive tackles. A three-down linebacker.

Pick 85. Kiran Amegadije, OT, Yale. Amegadije has the physical tools to be a high end starting left tackle in the NFL. He’s an explosive, physical athlete. Dominant in run blocking. In pass protection, has multiple offensive sets at his disposal depending on the type of defender.

Pick 155. Malik Washington, WR, Virginia. Washington has a great short yardage burst. Maintains his speed when changing direction. Uses his hands effectively to push off defenders and can make a catch while getting hit. Great yards after the catch.

Pick 205. Isacc Guerendo, RB, Louisville. Guerendo is a very decisive runner. He is very impressive in size, speed and strength. Has very subtle lateral shifts. Can plow through arm tackles and is an excellent pass rush blocker. Great hands for catching the ball out of the backfield.

Pick 243. Trey Knox, TE, South Carolina. Knox is a great open field runner. Has good ball tracking skills and can adjust to off-target throws. Has strong hands when going after contested catches. Can go from receiver to runner quickly and has the speed to provide decent yards after the catch for a tight end.

I feel the Browns greatest draft need is linebacker. They still might sign Matthew Adams who led the team in special team tackles last year, but another young fast linebacker wouldn’t hurt. The other four needs are tight end, wide receiver, running back and offensive tackle. If the Browns move on from Wills, Amegadije would be your starter in 2025. Even if Nike Chubb is ready or not for the start of the season, Guerendo will make the starting 53. Wide receiver is an interesting position, Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore are all free agents in 2025, so drafting a wide receiver is not out of the question. I’m not sure Giovanni Ricci is the answer as the third tight end. Hell, I’m not sure Jordan Akins is the answer as the second tight end. I do know this a good draft for a third string tight end. Like I said earlier, I’m not sure the Browns will have their seventh-round pick come day three of the draft.

Let me know how you feel about this mock, the one thing I know, Browns fans have their opinions. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Today it was announced the Browns traded two day three picks for Bronco wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. Here are the particulars:

The Browns receive Jeudy.

The Broncos receive a fifth-round pick (#135) and a sixth-round pick (#202).

Last year there were rumors the Browns were interested in Jeudy, but Denver was asking for at least a second-round pick.

Jeudy was the 15th pick in the 2020 NFL draft. With Denver he played 57 games with 211 receptions for 3053 yards, eleven touchdowns and averaged 14.5 yards a catch. He’ll turn 25 in April and has one year remaining on his contract for $12.9 million. I expect the Browns to extend him. Jeudy, Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore are set to be free agents in 2025.

He immediately steps in as the number two wide receiver in the Browns offense. The current wide receiver room for the Browns consists of seven players, Cooper, Jeudy, Moore, Cedric Tillman, David Bell, Michael Woods and Jaylan Darden. Traditionally, on their final 53-man roster Cleveland carries six wide receivers. In 2023 the Browns were 20th in the league in yards after the catch. Jeudy averaged 5.4 yards after the catch which ranked him sixth in the NFL among wide receivers who had at least 80 receptions.

Browns GM Andrew Berry has proven when he wants a player, he’s not afraid to make a trade. He’s now traded a fifth-round pick and a pick swap for Cooper and a fifth and a sixth for Jeudy. Excellent use of day three picks. This is low cost, high reward transaction. This trade will become final at the start of the league year, March 13. Now Berry has to address the defensive line either by signing free agents or via trade. Stand by, stay safe and Go Browns.

With the NFL combine underway, there is always Browns news. Currently the Browns are $6.8 million under the cap. This comes curtesy of the restructuring of cornerback Denzel Ward’s contract ($3.6 million in savings) and the addition of unpaid performance bonuses from 2023 ($3.2 million in savings). I don’t expect to hear about any more restructures until it gets closer to the beginning of the league year in a couple of weeks. GM Andrew Berry restructures when they need the cap space. So if it’s reported another player has restructured their contract, something is about to happen. Food for thought.

With NFL draft fans watching the “Underwear Olympics” on the NFL Network and watching social media for Relative Athletic Scores (RAS), I’m more interested in who the Browns have interviewed. Player interviews are very important to the draft process. Here’s a list so far (with more on the way):

Defensive Line: Adisa Isaac, Penn St, Branden Fiske, Florida St, John Morgan, Arkansas, Eric Watts, U Conn, Cedric Johnson, Ole Miss and Maason Smith, LSU.

Tight End: Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas.

Running Back: Audric Estime, Notre Dame and Kiman Vidal, Troy.

Wide Receiver: Troy Franklin, Oregon, Jermaine Barton, Alabama, Xavier Worthy, Texas, Ladd McConkey, Georgia and Malik Washington, Washington.

Offensive Line: Patrick Paul, Houston, Delmar Glaze, Maryland, Christian Huges, U Conn and Kiram Anegadjie, Yale.

Some of my favorites on this list are Isaac, Fiske (probably a 1st rounder), Watts, Johnson, Sanders, Estime, Worthy, McConkey, Glaze and Anegadjie.

This list will grow as the combine continues. I’ll repost any names from http://@ctownthug or if it’s big news, I’ll do a Cleveland Browns Dawgpound South podcast http://@ElfzNetwork. I’m really interested in seeing which linebackers the Browns interview.

It was reported yesterday that WR Mike Evans will test free agency. His agent says (take this with a grain of salt) he’s looking for a team with an elite quarterback and a Super Bowl contender. Not a ringing endorsement for a certain former Browns QB. Could he be in play for the Browns? Not likely. Would I like to see him paired with Amari Cooper? Damn right I would and so should you. It’s more than likely Andrew Barry will pull off a trade for a wide receiver than sign a big-name free agent WR. But you never know. I prefer they sign a big-name defensive tackle, but that’s just me.

It looks more likely the Browns are going to Brazil for game one against the Eagles. First Peter King reported it, then it’s starting to show up on the NFL schedule predicters I follow on twitter. I still don’t know how I fell about it, but if it happens, the Browns will get a couple extra days rest before game two, which might be a Monday Night game at home. Stay safe and Go Browns.