The magical ride that was the 2023 Cleveland Browns season is over after a blowout loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday. It is officially draft season and time for plenty of 2024 NFL mock drafts.
The injuries to the offensive line at the tackle position showed up in this game, as Joe Flacco was constantly under pressure.
Looking forward to the 2024 NFL draft this is the year, the Browns need an offensive tackle, with some impressive interior prospects as well. Jedrick Wills Jr. was playing some of his best football before his injury, and enters the final year of his contract with the team uncertain if he is the future at the position or not.
Though the wide receiver room was significantly improved in 2023, there are still some limitations in that room. Without a consistent deep threat after Marquise Goodwin didn’t work out in 2023, the Browns will be looking there in the draft.
Let’s take a look at how the Browns could look to build for the future when April’s draft comes around.
Round 2, Pick 55: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
The 2023 Browns wide receiver room played so much better than 2022 but with the Marquise Goodwin acquisition not bearing fruit they still struggled at times to push the ball vertically. Enter Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson who has elite-level explosiveness and the long speed to beat defenses over the top.
Wilson is a smooth route runner who gets in and out of his breaks well and is one of the more twitched-up prospects in this class. He has consistently strong hands only having nine dropped passes in his four years with Michigan.
Wilson was limited in production because of the run-first offense he played in at Michigan but this dude can straight-up beat defenses deep. He has spent time both in the slot and out wide and could help take the Browns’ passing offense to the next level.
Round 3, Pick 86: Dominick Puni, OT, Kansas
The Browns can’t go into the 2024 season with James Hudson III as one of the depth tackles who is an injury away from playing. Adding a player with the experience Dominick Puni had in college would be a significant upgrade. Puni brings versatility to the room having been the Jayhawks starting left guard in 2022 before moving to left tackle for the 2023 season.
In his two years as a starter, Puni played 783 pass-blocking snaps and allowed just 16 pressures and zero sacks. He is a massive player at 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds you see a guy similar to Dawand Jones who is just impossible to go through to get to the quarterback.
He would add depth at two positions with left tackle being his best position and he could become your future left tackle if needed. He has violent hands and good lateral agility making him an elite level pass blocking prospect.
Round 5, Pick 138: Cooper Beebe, G, Kansas State
Cooper Beebe is another versatile offensive lineman who spent time at right tackle, left tackle and left guard with Kansas State. Beebe played well at all three spots but by far his best position was left guard. Over his three years as a starter, he allowed 21 pressures and only one sack.
Beebe is a powerful player who moves people in the run game with his nasty streak with his strong hands. He moves so well in open space as a run defender and tends to make defensive backs and linebackers look silly as he throws them out of the way.
Round 5, Pick 164: Keith Randolph Jr., DT, Illinois
The Browns have some decisions to make at the defensive tackle position with three of their significant contributors this year becoming free agents. Keith Randolph Jr. has an explosive first step off the line of scrimmage with good sight and length for the position. Randolph plays with a high motor with good footwork and is twitched up for his size and position.
He anchors the middle of the defensive line doing the dirty work to clog rushing lanes. Good hands and showed improvement from last year he is an intriguing player in this year’s class.
Round 6, Pick 204: Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Edge, Washington
Zion Tupuola-Fetui is a solid run defender with good size and strength to set the edge and limit explosive plays on the ground. Has an impressive bull rush and does a good job at stacking and shedding offensive linemen as both a pass rusher and a run defender. Does well defending mobile quarterbacks and the read option after playing several years at Washington against athletic quarterbacks.
Round 6, Pick 210: Jordan Magee, LB, Temple
Jordan Magee is a versatile linebacker who consistently makes an impact in the run game, coverage, and even as a blitzing pass rusher. He is at his best when he doesn’t have to diagnose much and can just react with his impressive trigger and downhill speed. He is at his best in open space and crashing downhill often as a pass rusher.
Round 7, Pick 231: Isaiah Davis, RB, South Dakota State
Isaiah Davis is a big strong running back that has good acceleration and long speed to create explosive plays. Excels in the zone running schemes with solid patience and discipline that matches up with what the Browns like to do. Davis always runs hard and fights for every little bit of extra yardage he can get and would add needed running back depth for Cleveland.
