Ranking the Cleveland Browns' top 5 NFL draft needs and how they might fill them

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Ranking the Cleveland Browns' top 5 NFL draft needs and how they might fill them

Akron Beacon Journal

Thu, Apr 25, 2024 ·

5 min read

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The Cleveland Browns enter the NFL draft without a first-round pick for the third straight year . That doesn't mean the Browns won't be busy this weekend, with two picks scheduled Friday for the second day and four more Saturday on the final day.

Coming off a playoff season, their second in the last four years after just one postseason trip the previous 21 years, the Browns enter the draft looking to bolster a talented roster of established NFL players.

Strong play along the defensive line was instrumental in their defense becoming an elite unit in 2023 . Additional help at defensive tackle figures to be a top priority. After that, the priorities shift to the offensive side at wide receiver and offensive line lead the way there.

Here's our look at five positions where the Browns could help themselves in the draft.

1. The Browns need a defensive tackle. Who fits?

Oct 23, 2021; College Station, Texas; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson (35) and South Carolina Gamecocks defensive lineman M.J. Webb (94) during the third quarter at Kyle Field. Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

This is a position where our Chris Easterling thinks the Browns could use some younger legs up front. Among the potential answers to this need are a local option, Streetsboro High School grad Michael Hall Jr., who played at Ohio State, and a solid third-day option, McKinnley Jackson of Texas A&M.

Here's more on the defensive tackles from Chris, including breakdowns of Braden Fiske of Florida State, Kris Jenkins of Michigan and Maason Smith of LSU.

NFL draft prospects: 2024 NFL draft big board | Top 300 prospects include Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr.

2. The Browns need a wide receiver. Who fits?

Texas Longhorns wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) celebrates a play in the fourth quarter of the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff semi-finals at the Ceasars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jan. 1, 2024. The Huskies won the game 37-31.

The Browns have picked a wide receiver in the second or third round in each of the last three drafts. Don't be surprised if that streak continues. Sure, they have Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy at the top of this position, but they know they need to add more playmakers in the passing game.

Wide receiver looks to be a deep position in this draft and the Browns probably would love to see Georgia's speedy Ladd McConkey still around at pick No. 54, when Cleveland makes its first pick.

Other options there, or likely later, include Malachi Corley of Western Kentucky, Troy Franklin of Oregon, Roman Wilson of Michigan and Xavier Worthy of Texas. All of plusses, namely speed, but each comes with a drawback. Worthy is the fastest (4.21 40), but joins Franklin in scouts being concerned about their size (both weigh less than 180 pounds)

Read more from Chris about this group, including who he thinks could be a good "consolation prize" on Day 3 of the draft.

3. The Browns need an offensive lineman. Who fits?

Oct 16, 2021; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Yale Bulldogs offensive lineman Kiran Amegadjie (72) blocks Connecticut Huskies defensive lineman Lwal Uguak (98) during the first half at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

In need of depth along the line and perhaps someone to develop at left tackle, the Browns have some options to consider.

Let's start with three tackles: Kiran Amegadjie of Yale, Kingsley Sumataia of BYU and Giovanni Manu from the University of British Columbia. Some view Amegadjie as a player the Browns might spend a day-two pick on to develop at left tackle. Sumataia is just 21 and has started at least 11 games at both tackle spots. Manu is the biggest of the three at 6-foot-8 and 350 pounds and is looked at as a late-round sleeper.

Javion Cohen of Miami (Fla.) and Dominick Puni of Kansas are the guards the Browns likely have interest in. Cohen began his college career at Alabama and started 25 games from 2021-22 at left guard before he transferred to Miami for his final season last fall. Puni, 24, is 6-5 and 321 and offers a lot of versatility. He's projected as a guard or center, but can play tackle and played all five line positions during the Senior Bowl week.

Read more about what Chris had to say about this group.

4. The Browns need a tight end. Who fits?

Michigan's A.J. Barner, left, scores a touchdown as Michigan State's Malik Spencer, right, defends during the third quarter on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

Three of the five tight ends the Browns are likely keeping an eye on are from the Big Ten, including two with ties to Ohio. Cade Stover starred at Ohio State and has good pass-catching skills. A.J. Barner is from Aurora High School and then played for three years at Indiana before transferring to play last season for Michigan.

Stover likely will go off the board at some point during the second night of the draft, which means the Browns might have to use a higher pick than they wish for a tight end. Barner has good upside in the later rounds after going from a 5-foot-8, 150-pound high school freshman to a 6-6, 251-pound starter for the national champs.

Ja'Tavion Sanders of Texas could go early in the second night of the draft, likely putting him out of reach of the Browns. Erick All of Iowa (a Michigan transfer) and Jaheim Bell of Florida State are two other tight ends to keep an eye on later in the draft.

Read more about how these five could help Cleveland.

5. The Browns need a linebacker. Who fits?

Tyrice Knight was a senior linebacker for UTEP in the 2023 season

Looking for depth and perhaps a starter at middle linebacker, the Browns will have options during the second and third nights, depending on how high of a pick they wish to use.

Junior Colson of Michigan is viewed as a second-round pick and could be a long-term answer at middle linebacker. Edgerrin Cooper of Texas A&M is highly regarded on the outside. Payton Wilson of North Carolina State could be the most talented of the three and some think he could sneak into the end of the first round. But injuries are a concern, as is his age (he just turned 24).

If the Browns wait for the third day, Tyrice Knight of Texas-El Paso and Jordan Magee of Temple are two options. Both play middle linebacker, although Knight also played on the outside earlier in his college career.