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Didn’t the city of Cleveland look great during the NFL draft? Wow. The Browns emerged from this past weekend an even stronger team than they were prior to the draft. All hail Andrew Berry. I still can’t believe they got Greg Newsome and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in the first two rounds. In the first round they let the draft board come to them and in the second round they traded up slightly. Then the Browns added speed at WR (Anthony Schwartz), OL help (James Hudson), DL help ( Tommy Togiai), and immediate special teams help ( Tony Fields, Richard LeCounte & Demetric Felton). If I were Chris Hubbard, Jo Jo Natson, Mack Wilson & D’Ernest Johnson, I would be worried. The Browns also added UDFA DT Marvin Wilson, free agent DT Malik McDowell and free agent DT Damion Square. McDowell is the only player I question because of his checkered past, but Andrew Berry said the Browns are going to give him a second chance. Low risk, high reward.

According to all the talking heads the Browns graded well for their 2021 draft. Add the drafted players to the free agents signed and the Browns have one of the best rosters in the AFC and the NFL. Pro Football Focus has them rated fifth in the NFL and second in the AFC behind the Chiefs. I’m still trying to figure out why the Ravens traded OT Orlando Brown to Kansas City. Why help a future playoff opponent? Speaking of PFF, they graded the Browns secondary as the most improved in the NFL. Here’s a link, https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2021/5/6/22423189/cleveland-browns-secondary-nfl-most-improved-pff. PFF also ranked the Browns as one of their most improved teams. Here’s a link, https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-most-improved-teams-free-agency-2021-nfl-draft. It’s a good time to be a Browns fan.

So what’s next on the NFL calendar, besides ESPN endlessly trying to trade OBJ and Baker Mayfield. Hey ESPN, go back to showing “The Drive” and “The Fumble” I’m finally numb to you showing those. The NFL Schedule announcement will be Wednesday May 12th. I can’t wait. Looking at the Browns home opponent’s, they should be favored in every game. I’ll wait to judge the away schedule until the Aaron Rogers saga plays out. I bet the NFL schedule makers are sweating that decision. Offseason workout dates were also announced. Rookie Minicamp: May 14-16, OTA Workouts: May 25-27, June 1-3 and June 7-10 and Mandatory Mini Camp June 15-17. Finally, episode three of “Building The Browns” will air Sunday at 10:30 am CST on YouTube. This episode will feature the draft picks. Everyone stay safe, get vaccinated, happy Mothers Day to all the Moms and GO Browns.

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.

With the NFL draft one week away, rumors are in the air. Will Burge (@WillBuge) tweeted today “4+ years removed from the game and Id still put my sources up against anyone. Something big is brewing.” Burge used to work for ESPN & Bleacher Report, so there is a possibility something big is in the works, however I’m not sure it involves the Browns. But than again, the week before the draft is also known as silly season. As for the Browns and the draft, anything is possible at pick 26. They could draft a cornerback, edge, safety, wide receiver or defensive tackle. GM Andrew Berry could surprise everyone and package pick 26 and a few other picks and move up for a certain player. Or he could stand pat and let the draft come to him. I do know the Browns have talked to CB Jaycee Horn a couple of times. Horn will not fall to number 26 no matter how strange the draft becomes.

As every Browns fan knows, DT Sheldon Richardson was released last Friday for salary cap reasons. The move saved the Browns about $12 million and now they are $21.4 million under the cap. There is hope Richardson will return for less money. As of today, I have not heard of any teams interested in bringing him in for a visit or what kind of salary he’s looking for. For reference, former Titan DT DaQuan Jones received a one year contract from Carolina this week for about $4 million. As a former first round drat pick, I’m sure Richardson feels he’s worth more. Hopefully he’ll return. The Browns still have offers out to a few veteran cornerbacks and all it would take is for one of them to accept. There are still rumors the Browns might trade for Stephon Gilmore of New England. It might be a draft day trade and the asking price is a third rounder and another lower pick this year or a pick next year. The problem with Gilmore, the Browns would have to extend and redo his contract. Currently he is due to make $7.3 million for 2021. He’s 31, so the contract would have to be for 2021 & 2022.

So what is Andrew Berry going to do next week? If I knew that answer I’d be a very rich man next week. I think the Browns will stay at number 26 and let the draft come to them. It worked last year so why mess with a good thing. I think the surprise would be if the Browns selected a wide receiver at 26. If Elijah Moore were to fall to 26, then, yeah I would draft him in a heartbeat. If not a WR then a cornerback. Someone like Greg Newsome, Assante Samuel, Elijah Molden or Ifeatu Melifonwu. I could also see them drafting Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. I see him more of a safety than a linebacker and he’s a versatile disruptive force like Clowney.

A few final notes, the NFL announced they’ll drop the 2021 schedule on May 12. Only the NFL could announce and announcement and it would be big news. Also the next episode of “Building The Browns” will air on YouTube this Sunday at 10:30 am Central time. This show feeds my Browns Sunday habit. Next week I’ll have my final Dawgpoundsouth.net Browns mock draft. Everyone stay safe, get vaccinated and Go Browns.

The Browns free agency train kept on rolling Wednesday with the announcement that the Browns signed DE Jadeveon Clowney. This was the worst kept secret in the NFL. With the exception of signing an experienced outside corner, the Browns are pretty much done in free agency. And yes they still have their eye on a couple of corners. But what about the salary cap you ask? The NFL salary cap is hard to manage, but easy to manipulate. Browns GM Andrew Berry never does anything without being prepared for the consequences. You have to figure Berry has the parameters of a restructure or two ready to go. So what does the Clowney signing do for the Browns.

First of all, Clowney has never been a premier pass rusher. What he does extremely well is pressure the quarterback, stop the run and set the edge. He can play inside or outside. His win rate when rushing from the inside is 21.5%, which is top five in the league. He was top five last year (fourth) in being double teamed. Now opposing offenses will have to commit four to five guys on the field to block Clowney and Garrett, that’s insane. Clowney told the Cleveland media he knew he was going to sign with the Browns a week after their first meeting. He also said he wasn’t used right last year with the Titans. With the pieces the Browns have in the front four, Big Ben might star crying before the game.

With the addition of Clowney and another corner, the Browns draft plan is pretty easy. Draft for the future and depth. Teams like Baltimore, Pittsburg and New England have done it for years. As I’ve said before, Andrew Berry will not use all nine draft picks on players. He’ll use the Browns picks to move in the draft and to collect future capital. With the assumption the first five picks will be QB, QB, QB, QB and LT, a great player will fall into the late teens, early twenties. If a player the Browns want falls to around pick 20, it would only cost the Browns their first and one of their two third round picks. These signings also free up the Browns to take any position, wide receiver, edge, cornerback, safety or defensive tackle. This draft is going to be fun. Everyone stay safe, get vaccinated and Go Browns.

As we inch closer and closer to the 2021 NFL draft, I’m starting to hone in on certain players in certain rounds. While I still don’t believe Browns GM Andrew Berry will use all nine draft picks on players, he could. So here’s my dawgpoundsouth mock draft 2.0.

26. Kwity Paye, Edge, Michigan.

59. Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky.

89. Tommy Togiai, DT, Ohio State.

91. Tutu Atwell, WR, Louisville.

110. Tommy Tremble, TE, Notre Dame.

132. Shaun Wade, DB, Ohio State.

169. Chuba Hubbard, RB Oklahoma State.

211. Justin Hilliard, LB, Ohio State.

257. Sam Cooper, OL, Merrimack.

For this mock draft I used the Pro Football Network draft simulator. While I still think the Browns will sign a free agent defensive end, they haven’t yet so I went with an edge at pick 26. By the way, if you see a mock draft with the Browns taking a linebacker with their first pick, ignore it, throw it away or scroll past. The Browns aren’t using their first pick on a LB. Browns DC Joe Woods wants to run a 4-2-5 defense and they’re set at linebacker, unless it’s a third day pick for depth. You’ll also notice there are three players from The Ohio State. That’s just how the draft fell and I love Togiai, Wade and Hilliard. Sure I’m an Ohio State fan. but these are team needs and value in where they are picked.

I picked potential replacements at TE, DT, WR and RB. Sheldon Richardson, Andrew Billings and David Njoku are on the last year of their contracts. At wide receiver, the Browns have to address the money they’re paying the wide receivers currently on the roster. Unless there is a restructure some where, Beckham and Landry both won’t be on the roster in 2022. Hopefully the Browns will extend Nick Chubb and I like RB D’Ernest Johnson, however Hubbard was just too good to pass up. Also, the Browns interviewed him, as they have Paye, Joseph, Cooper and Atwell.

This isn’t my final mock, but it’s starting to come together each week. So tell me what you think. Just a reminder, the first “Building The Browns” will air on YouTube this Sunday at 10:00 am. I can’t wait. Everyone stay safe, get vaccinated and Go Browns

Now that free agency has calmed down, I thought I would turn my focus to the NFL draft. The Browns have nine picks, number 26, 59, 89, 91, 110, 132, 169, 211 and 257. Do I expect Browns GM Andrew Berry to use all nine picks? Nope. Hopefully he’ll spare Browns fans the wait of number 257, three picks away from “Mr. Irrelevant.” The endless “blah, blah” by the third string ESPN personalities late on a Saturday afternoon is mind numbing. For my first draft, I’m going to draft based on the current roster. Personally, I think Andrew Berry will sign one more defensive end and an outside cornerback in free agency. So let’s play 2021 Cleveland Browns mock draft 1.0.

26. Greg Newsome, II, CB, Northwestern. Newsome allowed a passer rating of only 31.7 and a completion percentage of 35.3% in 2020. he posted a 4.39 40 yard dash time. I fell in love with this kid when I watched the Ohio State vs. Northwestern game.

59. Tommy Togiai, DL, Ohio State. The Browns need a run stuffing defensive tackle to back-up DT’s Andrew Billings and Sheldon Richardson. Togiai has great body leverage and hand usage to get under the pads of offensive linemen. He also has great lateral movement.

89. Joe Tryon, Edge, Washington. Explosive and athletic off the edge. Versatile enough to be an outside linebacker and a defensive end in the 4-3.

91. Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse. Had thirteen interceptions and fourteen pass break-ups in 24 games. He is a ball magnet. Can be a starting free safety that primarily plays deep.

110. Nick Eubanks, TE, Michigan. His best scheme fit is a run heavy, play-action passing offense featuring misdirection and multiple tight end sets. Sound familiar? Will probably be no better than a number two tight end in the NFL.

132. David Moore, G, Grambling State. A very aggressive interior lineman. Great run blocker. Athletic enough to pull on screen passes and perimeter plays.

169. Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky. I doubt Davis will be on the board at number 169, however, the draft simulator I used had him there. He might fall because he was a one year starter. Rangy, tall and explosive. Had several big plays in the passing game. Projects as a Will linebacker in the NFL.

211.  Rico Bussey Jr., WR, Hawaii. A very explosive and dynamic route-runner, who is willing and able to block in the run game. Can also contribute on special teams as a returner.

257. Jordyn Peters, CB, Auburn. Can play safety or corner. Was a special teams ace blocking four punts in his Auburn career.

There you have it, my first official dawgpoundsouth mock draft of the season. Tear it apart, tell me player so-in-so won’t be there when I have him drafted or that guy stinks why did you draft him. Whatever you want. Everyone stay safe, get vaccinated and Go Browns.

So let me get this straight, the first free agent signed by the Browns during the “legal tampering” period said he took less money to sign with the Browns and it’s an opportunity of a lifetime? Wait…What? First of all the words legal and tampering should never be back-to-back in a sentence. Never. Second, the best free agent safety signed with the Browns and it wasn’t about the cash. Okay, I could get used to this. I knew GM Andrew Berry would make one big signing at the start, but I thought it would be for an defensive end. Everybody thought it would be a defensive end. Nope. Every Browns fans knows the defense was terrible last year, especially the safeties. Raise your hand if you were tired of seeing opposing players open in the middle of the Browns defense. Pro Football Focus rated the Browns safeties at 48.8. Johnson is rated by PFF at 85.6. Much better, thank you AB.

Next came the guy the Browns have wanted for over a year, DE Takk McKinley. The Browns tried to claim him off waivers three times and tried to trade for him once. Somebody in the Browns front office and/or coaching staff really likes him. In his first two years in the league he was very productive, he regressed the last couple of years. McKinley is very grateful the Browns wanted him, have faith in him and knows he can be better. This signing reminds of the Kareem Hunt signing, low risk, high reward. Good player looking for a second chance.

The next free agent signing shocked the hell out of me. Cornerback Troy Hill. The best slot corner in the NFL the last two years. What the hell is going on here? I thought Andrew Berry spent big on safety, so he’ll go bargain hunting at corner. Nope. The Browns secondary is going to be scary good. Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams, Ronnie Harrison, Grant Delpit, John Johnson, III and Troy Hill. Wow. The last two free agent signings, LB Anthony Walker and DT Malik Jackson are impressive as well. Walker is simply a tackling machine who is great against the run. While Jackson will be a rotational defensive lineman. He can play inside or out on the line. This defensive line is going to be nasty.

As for the resigning of Browns free agents, Hollywood Higgins was the big news. As I’ve said in past blogs, Andrew Berry was going to let the market set the price on Higgins. When I saw WR John Brown sign for $3 million, boom, market set. Others resigned were LB Malcolm Smith, WR JoJo Natson, LB Elijah Lee, Kicker Cody Parkey and OT Greg Senat. Smith was the seventh best coverage LB in the league last year, Natson will return punts and offer speed in the receiving core, Lee is a special teams ace, Senat will compete for a back-up role and Parkey was perfect in the playoffs.

So what’s next? Probably another corner (Gareon Conley?), maybe a veteran defensive end to back-up Garrett ( Clowney, Kerrigan, Dunlop, Atkins, Blair?). If Malik Jackson is better suited for defensive end, then maybe a back-up defensive tackle (I have no idea). All I know is GM Andrew Berry is a genius, a silent assassin, a free agent ninja, a salary cap savant. Everyone enjoy their week, stay safe and Go Browns.