The Cleveland Browns have added 10 players either back to their roster or to their roster through the first week of NFL free agency. From re-signing some of their own like linebacker Sione Takitaki and center Ethan Pocic to adding new talent to the roster in the form of defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and pass rusher Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, general manager Andrew Berry has employed an efficient and controlled approach. How does that affect their plans for the 2023 NFL Draft?
Here we take a shot at a full three-round mock draft, slotting out 100 picks to see what kind of haul the Browns could potentially bring in at the end of April.
1
Carolina Panthers (via CHI): QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
2
Houston Texans: QB Bryce Young, Alabama
3
Indianapolis Colts (via ARI): QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
4
Arizona Cardinals (via IND): EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
5
Seattle Seahawks: DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
6
Detroit Lions (via LAR): CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
7
Las Vegas Raiders: OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
8
Atlanta Falcons: EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia
9
Tennessee Titans (via CHI via CAR): QB Will Levis, Kentucky
10
Philadelphia Eagles (via NO): EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
11
Chicago Bears (via TEN): EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
12
Houston Texans (via CLE): WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
13
New York Jets: OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
14
New England Patriots: OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
15
Green Bay Packers: WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
16
Washington Commanders: CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
17
Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
18
Detroit Lions: DT Bryan Bresee, Clemson
19
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OT Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
20
Seattle Seahawks: WR Jordan Addison, USC
21
Miami Dolphins: FORFEIT
22
Los Angeles Chargers: OT Dawand Jones, Ohio State
23
Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
24
Minnesota Vikings: CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
25
Jacksonville Jaguars: S Brian Branch, Alabama
26
New York Giants: OG O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
27
Dallas Cowboys: DT Mazi Smith, Michigan
28
Buffalo Bills: OT Darnell Wright, Tennessee
29
Cincinnati Bengals: RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
30
New Orleans Saints (via SF): CB Julius Brents, Kansas State
31
Philadelphia Eagles: DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt
32
Kansas City Chiefs: TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
33
Pittsburgh Steelers (via CHI): LB Trenton Simpson, Clemson
34
Houston Texans: TE Darnell Washington, Georgia
35
Arizona Cardinals: CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
36
Indianapolis Colts: OT Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse
37
Los Angeles Rams: EDGE BJ Ojulari, LSU
38
Seattle Seahawks (via DEN): C Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin
39
Las Vegas Raiders: CB Cam Smith, South Carolina
40
Carolina Panthers: WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
41
New Orleans Saints: EDGE Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
42
Tennessee Titans: WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
43
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via CLE): TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
The Browns trade out of pick 42, falling back to pick 50 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They also managed to grab another third rounder, the 82nd overall pick, by giving up one of their two fifth rounders to the Buccaneers as well.
44
New York Jets: LB Jack Campbell, Iowa
45
Atlanta Falcons: WR Josh Downs, North Carolina
46
Green Bay Packers: EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
47
New England Patriots: DL Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern
48
Washington Commanders: C Luke Wypler, Ohio State
49
Detroit Lions: LB Drew Sanders, Arkansas
50
Pittsburgh Steelers: C John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota
51
Cleveland Browns (via TB): WR Tyler Scott, Cincinnati
The Browns are now on the clock after their trade-back with the Buccaneers. And with the 50th overall pick in this mock draft, the Browns select a wide receiver with a game-breaking skillset in Cincinnati’s Tyler Scott.
Addressing both defensive tackle and defensive end in NFL free agency, the wide receiver position is still a glaring need. Not just the receiver position, but the need to take the top off of opposing defenses and create explosive plays.
The Akron native fits the bill here.
52
Seattle Seahawks: CB Tyrique Stevenson, Miami
53
Miami Dolphins: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
54
Los Angeles Chargers: LB Daiyan Henley, Washington State
55
Chicago Bears (via BAL): DT Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
56
Detroit Lions (via MIN): TE Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
57
Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia
58
New York Giants: WR Marvin Mims, Oklahoma
59
Dallas Cowboys: OG Cody Mauch, North Dakota State
60
Buffalo Bills: S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
61
Cincinnati Bengals: CB Jaylon Jones, Texas A&M
62
Chicago Bears (via SF): OG Steve Avila, TCU
63
Philadelphia Eagles: WR Tank Dell, Houston
64
Kansas City Chiefs: EDGE Keion White, Georgia Tech
65
Chicago Bears: RB Devon Achane, Texas A&M
66
Houston Texans: DL Tuli Tuipulotu, Florida
67
Arizona Cardinals: WR Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
68
Denver Broncos: EDGE Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
69
Denver Broncos (via IND): CB Eli Ricks, Alabama
70
Los Angeles Rams: S Quan Martin, Illinois
71
Las Vegas Raiders: QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
72
New Orleans Saints: CB Clark Phillips III, Utah
73
Tennessee Titans: EDGE Zach Harrison, Ohio State
74
Houston Texans (via CLE): OT Wanya Morris, Oklahoma
75
New York Jets: TE Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
76
Atlanta Falcons: S Sydney Brown, Illinois
77
New England Patriots (via CAR): WR A.T. Perry, Wake Forest
78
Los Angeles Rams (via NE): DT Gervon Dexter, Florida
79
Green Bay Packers: TE Sam LaPorta, Iowa
80
Indianapolis Colts (via WAS): CB Darius Rush, South Carolina
81
Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland
82
Detroit Lions: WR Jayden Reed, Michigan State
83
Cleveland Browns (via TB): EDGE Derick Hall, Auburn
The Browns are now back on the clock with the 82nd overall pick, previously owned by Tampa Bay. Here, they add another depth piece to their defensive end room, landing the explosive and physical Auburn pass rusher Derick Hall. While Hall is not the most flexible or pass-rush-savvy player in the class, he sets a strong edge in the run game and is not afraid to work through the chest of the man across from him.
After landing Ogbonnia Okoronkwo in NFL free agency, the Browns may look for a situational guy to pair him with in run-obvious situations. Hall is that guy here.
84
Seattle Seahawks: LB DeMarvion Overshown, Texas
85
Miami Dolphins: OT Tyler Steen, Alabama
86
Los Angeles Chargers: WR Rashee Rice, SMU
87
Baltimore Ravens: CB Garrett Williams, Syracuse
88
Minnesota Vikings: WR Michael Wilson, Stanford
89
Jacksonville Jaguars: EDGE Andre Carter II, Army
90
New York Giants: QB Tanner McKee, Stanford
91
Dallas Cowboys: WR Parker Washington, Penn State
92
Buffalo Bills: CB Kyu Blue Kelly, Stanford
93
Cincinnati Bengals: OT Blake Freeland, BYU
94
Carolina Panthers: EDGE/LB Nick Herbig, Wisconsin
95
Philadelphia Eagles: S Jammie Robinson, Florida State
96
Kansas City Chief: DT Siaki Ika, Baylor
97
Arizona Cardinals: OG Andrew Vorhees, USC
98
Washington Commanders: EDGE Byron Young, Tennessee
99
Cleveland Browns: DT Byron Young, Alabama
After landing Dalvin Tomlinson in NFL free agency, they turned around and took two flyers on Maurice Hurst and Trysten Hill. With both of them and Jordan Elliott all with one year on their contract, the Browns will still need to draft another defensive tackle as well. Here they take Alabama’s Byron Young, who wins with heavy hands and a ton of refinement at the position.
100
San Francisco 49ers: CB D.J. Turner, Michigan
101
Las Vegas Raiders: S Jordan Battle, Alabama
102
San Francisco 49ers: DL Karl Brooks, Bowling Green
103
San Francisco 49ers: OT Braeden Daniels, Utah
104
Recapping the Browns' picks
Without a first round pick, the Browns have to get creative to continue to add young talent to the roster. One solution to that problem was solved by trading back with the Bucs from the 42nd overall pick to the 50th overall pick.
And with the 50th overall pick in the draft, the Browns landed Cincinnati wide receiver Tyler Scott. They upgraded their defensive front in the first week of NFL free agency, and now have the chance to splurge on an offensive need. Scott adds explosiveness to an offense that desperately needs it.
Returning to the defensive trenches to compensate for the players on one-year deals, however, the Browns added another defensive end and defensive tackle in the third round. First, with the Bucs’ pick, the Browns landed explosive Auburn defensive end Derick Hall, then landed the refined defensive tackle Byron Young with the 98th pick in the draft.
