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Who should Browns take on Day 2 of NFL draft 2024? Here are players to watch
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- Who should Browns take on Day 2 of NFL draft 2024? Here are players to watch
The Cleveland Browns finally get a chance to make a pick in the NFL draft Friday after having no pick in the first round on Thursday.
While the hype and spotlight was all on Thursday's first-round picks, that still was only 32 players total taken off the board. There remains a deep pool of players for Cleveland to choose from Friday , whether it stays at Nos. 54 and 85 overall or makes a trade up or down.
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The following are the best available players heading into the second and third rounds based on the Beacon Journal's top 300 big board .
NFL draft best available players Round 2
The Browns have yet to make a pick this year. Friday, don't be surprised to see them target a defensive tackle and either a wide receiver or offensive lineman.
Cooper DeJean , CB, Iowa
Missed four gmes with right leg injury, but was still an All-American for Hawkeyes.
Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Two-time All-American had 13 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss combined the last two seasons.
Adonai Mitchell , WR, Texas
Transferred from Georgia to Texas for his final season, where he caught 55 passes for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns.
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Kool-Aid McKinstry , CB, Alabama
Best name in the draft. Pretty good cornerback as well.
Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Moved from right guard to center this past season for the Ducks. Also had a defensive tackle start as a freshman.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
Missed four games last season for Mizzou, which cost him some opportunities. Only had one interception in his college career.
Ladd McConkey , WR, Georgia
One of the best all-around receivers in the draft class. Former Bulldogs two-time national champion had 119 career catches for 1,687 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Marshawn Kneeland , edge rusher, Western Michigan
Had 13 sacks and 28 tackles for loss in his Broncos career.
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Keon Coleman , WR, Florida State
Transferred from Michigan State for his final season and emerged as a big-play threat for Seminoles.
Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
Another son of a former NFL player, Jenkins developed into an All-American and a team captain for the Wolverines' national championship team.
Zach Frazier , C, West Virginia
Maybe the best pure center in the draft, Frazier started 38 career games at the position over the final three-plus years in Morgantown.
Braden Fiske , DT, Florida State
Originally a Western Michigan Bronco, Fiske transferred to Florida State for his sixth and final season to measure himself against the "big boys." He posted six sacks and nine tackles for loss in his one year in Tallahassee.
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Cooper Beebe , OG, Kansas State
Consensus All-American who, despite playing mostly left guard, possesses versatility to move around the line.
Junior Colson , LB, Michigan
Leading tackler and team leader for Michigan's national championship team last season.
Edgerrin Cooper , LB, Texas A&M
Had breakthrough season statistically last year, making eight sacks and 17 tackles for loss.
Roman Wilson , WR, Michigan
Led national champion Wolverines in receiving with 789 yards and 12 touchdowns on 48 catches.
Jonathon Brooks , RB, Texas
Took advantage of his first opportunity to be the Longhorns' starting running back, rushing for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns.
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Kamari Lassiter , CB, Georgia
Despite just one career interceptions, Lassiter allowed just 38.5% of the passes thrown his way to be completed and no touchdowns. His last pass interference flag came in Nov., 2022.
Kingsley Suamataia , OT, BYU
Started at left tackle this past season for the Cougars after having started at right tackle the previous year.
Max Melton , CB, Rutgers
Has eight interceptions and 30 passes defensed over his final three college seasons.
Christian Haynes , OG, Connecticut
Started 49 of 51 career games for the Huskies. Did not have a 2020 season after it was cancelled.
Jaden Hicks , S, Washington State
Hicks had two interceptions, six passes defensed, one forced fumble, 2.5 sacks and six tackles for loss last season for the Huskies.
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Payton Wilson , LB, North Carolina State
Injuries have been the biggest hindrance for Wilson, whose freshman year was 2018.
Javon Bullard , S, Georgia
Was the Bulldogs' defensive in both the 2022 playoff semifinal against Ohio State and the title game against TCU.
Mike Sanristil, CB, Michigan
Shifted from wide receiver to cornerback in 2022 and blossomed with seven career interceptions, 20 passes defensed and four sacks.
Browns NFL Draft needs
Michigan Wolverines defensive lineman Kris Jenkins (94) celebrates a recovered fumble Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, during the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The Browns have five positions of need, in order, defensive tackle, wide receiver, offensive line, tight end and linebacker.
Friday's Rounds 2 and 3 should feature talented options at defensive tackle and wide receiver. And depending on how things shake out earlier in Round 2, there could be options they can't resist at their other positions of need.
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Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns Day 2 targets: Best available for NFL draft Rounds 2 and 3
