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Who are the Browns projected to pick in 2024 NFL draft? What mock drafts say
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- Who are the Browns projected to pick in 2024 NFL draft? What mock drafts say
You know what's weird in Northeast Ohio?
It's weird when it's two weeks before the NFL Draft and there is practically no buzz about it – AT. ALL.
Zip. Nada. Nothing. Bubkes.
Peruse the airwaves of sports talk radio and nothing. No buzz talk or rumors. No great debates about which positions the Cleveland Browns need to fill. It's almost disconcerting, right?
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That's what trading three No. 1 first-round picks for quarterback Deshaun Watson will do for you. I'm sure, however, that Browns fans are happy with trading all that draft day speculation for last season's playoff appearance. And because we're getting closer to the April 25 day of destiny for the players coming out of college this year, even mock drafts that go beyond the first round are being released.
Considering the Browns don't draft until No. 54 (barring some wizardry by general manager Andrew Berry), that means fans can get a look at what the draft experts think the team will or needs to do to continue on its playoff trajectory.
And what do they think? Here's a smattering of opinions:
DT Kris Jenkins Jr., Michigan
Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus : "Possesses rare pedigree with a college football national title under his belt and a father who was a four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle. Jenkins has a smaller frame for his position, but he plays with good strength in one-on-one power swaps."
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DT Braden Fiske , Florida State
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: "Cleveland, without a first-round pick as a result of the Deshaun Watson trade from March 2022, could look for a wide receiver or offensive lineman in Round 2, but I see depth along the D-line as a more pressing hole. Fiske, my second-ranked defensive tackle, had a stellar combine workout, showing top-level physical traits. He had six sacks last season at FSU and had 13.5 in his career at Western Michigan before that."
RB Trey Benson , Florida State
Chris Trapasso gave the Browns Florida State running back Trey Benson at the No. 54 pick. While he didn't have an explanation for picks after the first round, this mock draft was published before the Browns reworked Nick Chubb's contract .
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LB Payton Wilson , North Carolina State
Chad Reuter, NFL.com : "Wilson's speed (4.43 40) and production (138 tackles last season) make him a bargain if available midway through the second round. Adding his nose for the ball and coverage ability alongside Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (who is heading into the final year of his rookie deal) and veteran Jordan Hicks bolsters the Browns' second-level defense."
DT Michael Hall, Ohio State
Corey Kinnan, Touchdown Wire: "Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz loves himself a slippery, gap-shooting defensive tackle, and Ohio State's Michael Hall Jr. is just that. While his run defense has room to improve, the impact he can make against the pass in the gauntlet of AFC quarterbacks is too good to pass up, especially when looking at the age and contract lengths of the other defensive tackles in the room. Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris are both over 30, and Quinton Jefferson (signed to start next to Tomlinson) is also over 30 and on just a one-year deal. Maurice Hurst, while a valuable rotational pass rusher a year ago, is also back on just a one-year deal after suffering yet another season-ending injury."
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LB Edgerrin Cooper , Texas A&M
Chad Reuter, NFL.com with analysis from NFL.com's Lance Zierlein: "Highly physical linebacker with elite top-end speed and a burning desire to get to the football that can lead to some inconsistencies in his play. Cooper is average at diagnosing the run but takes off around traffic on a mission to find the ball-carrier once he sees it. He can be undisciplined playing his run fits and takes unorthodox paths downhill, but he somehow finds ways to slither around blocks and make challenging tackles."
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns NFL mock draft roundup: Projected picks at No. 54
