Browns use newly-acquired 7th rounder to trade up for talented WR in 7-round mock draft (2024)

Dec 3, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry reacts during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Browns have not made a trade-up in the second round of the NFL draft since they did so in during the 2021 NFL draft to land linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. And that one turned out pretty well for them.

As a talented wide receiver continues to slip down the board here, the Browns package up the pick they just acquired from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for offensive tackle LeRoy Watson IV along with some 2025 draft picks to move up and get him.

Additionally, the Browns a massive three sixth round picks next year, so they add one of those with their fourth rounder to jump up nine spots in the draft.

Using their mock draft simulator, PFF gave this trade offer a 74 percent chance to be accepted, and in this case, the Saints did take the bait.

Terms of the trade:

• Browns receive: Pick No. 45
• Saints receive: Pick No. 54, Pick No. 227, 2025 4th round pick, 2025 6th round pick

Nov 18, 2023; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Keon Coleman (4) celebrates a touchdown against the North Alabama Lions during the third quarter at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-USA TODAY Sports

The Browns are in a position to go a few different avenues with the 54th overall pick. There is not a singular position they need to be locked in on. They could add another defensive tackle or linebacker, but in this case, they continue to look to overhaul the wide receiver room after trading up with the Saints.

Yes, the Browns just traded for and extended wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, but as of today, Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore are both set to become free agents at the end of the season. The Browns must be proactive in building a long-term future in the wide receiver room without dumping all of their eggs into the Jeudy and Cedric Tillman basket.

Sure, an extension could still get done with Cooper, but as the Browns go all in toward a Super Bowl window, adding an extraordinary talent like Coleman (who is being overthought because of his 40-yard dash time) is too good of an opportunity to pass up on.

While his 40-yard dash time came in at 4.6, PFF has his in-game tracking speed (the far more important number) in the 93rd percentile among all players in this year’s draft. Coleman plays fast, has strong hands above the rim, and moves in and out of breaks extraordinarily well for a man of his 6-foot-4 stature.

This would be a home run move-up for the Browns if they can reel in a talent like Coleman.

Nov 25, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. (51) celebrates a sack of Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) during the first half of the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium.

The odds that Ohio State defensive tackle is still on the board here in real life? Extremely slim. But if I’m allowed to take him with the 85th pick in the draft, I’m going to do it 10 times out of 10.

A slippery and highly athletic pass rusher from the interior, Hall is the gap-shooting type of defensive tackle that defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz covets along his defensive line. After a productive career at Ohio State as a pass rusher, Hall went out and put on a show at his pro day as well. The Browns have shown a great deal of interest in Hall, but they are far from the only ones.

There is room for Hall in Cleveland’s defensive tackle room as well with Maurice Hurst back on a one-year deal, Quinton Jefferson on just a one-year deal, and Shelby Harris on a two-year deal (but nearing the end of his career). With Siaki Ika showing little glimmers of hope as a healthy scratch a year ago, the Browns may consider their third rounder a year ago a sunk cost as they look to add way more athleticism into the room.

Sep 16, 2023; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Kansas State Wildcats tight end Ben Sinnott (34) scores a touchdown against Missouri Tigers defensive back Jaylon Carlies (1) and defensive back Joseph Charleston (28) during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

After letting Harrison Bryant walk in free agency, the Browns have a void in their tight end room they could look to fill on a cost-controlled rookie contract. While Jordan Akins is still in the room, he has just one year left on his contract. Giovanni Ricci was added as well in free agency, but his guaranteed money indicates he is far from a lock to make the final 53-man roster.

If the NFL really values Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott as a Day 3 player, then the Browns would look like brilliant drafters for nabbing him in the fifth round.

He runs a 4.68 40-yard dash, jumps 40 inches in his vertical jump, hit 10-feet-6 in his broad jump, and even hit the 89th and 98th percentile in his short shuttle and three-cone runs respectively. Not bad for a tight end who also totaled 678 yards and six touchdowns as a receiver for Kansas State in 2023.

Point blank: Sinnott is not afraid to punch defenders in the mouth as a blocker and after the catch, but also possesses the athleticism and receiving ability to be a net positive in the passing game as well. It is hard to think of a better TE2 in 12 personnel packages to put on the field with David Njoku in this year’s draft than Sinnott.

Kentucky’s Trevin Wallace recovers the fumble and moves the ball against Florida Saturday afternoon.
Sept. 30, 2023

Every year we clamor that the Browns need to upgrade their linebacker room, and every year they don’t and it turns out just fine. After upgrading the trenches in front of the second level, the linebackers had freedom to make plays in front of them last year.

After signing Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush to replace Anthony Walker Jr. and Sione Takitaki, there is plenty of reason to believe the Browns will consider that a job well done until Day 3 of the 2024 NFL draft.

And in this case, they were able to land Kentucky’s athletic linebacker Trevin Wallace in the sixth round to add a young depth piece to their linebacker room. At 6-foot-1 and 237 pounds, Wallace racked up 80 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and an interception for the Wildcats a year ago. He then went to the NFL Scouting Combine and put on a show, running a 4.51 40-yard dash and leaping to a 37.5-inch vertical.

Wallace has to prove he is more than an athlete though and has the eyes to play the position. Landing as a depth piece early in his career would give him that chance to develop in Cleveland.

Nov 13, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Maryland Terrapins offensive lineman Delmar Glaze (74) during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

One of the more underrated offensive linemen in this year’s draft class, Maryland’s Delmar Glaze would be an excellent depth piece and swing tackle for the Browns if they can find a way to get him to Cleveland. He has started games at right tackle and left tackle at the college level, proving he can play outside, while possessing the body type of a guard.

Speaking with him at the combine, Glaze stated that he met with the Browns in Indianapolis and that some teams have asked him to play guard instead. As the Browns are set to see James Hudson III exit in free agency next offseason, Glaze would be the perfect replacement as the swing tackle who could plug in at both tackle and guard.