The Cleveland Browns were present (I saw three scouts with my own eyes!) for Ohio State Football’s pro day with the 2024 NFL draft just a month away.
As it turns out, what Ohio State is churning out this year may align with what the Browns need to add in the draft. While Marvin Harrison Jr. remained a spectator, the others put on a show, including some of the area small school prospects. University of Findlay, Ashland University, and some former Ohio State grad transfers were added to the list of participants in Columbus on Wednesday.
Even former Ohio State players like NFL Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud and offensive tackle Dawand Jones were in attendance.
Going through testing and drills led by their Ohio State coaches, what stood out from Wednesday’s pro day in Columbus? Particularly, what takeaways could have implications for the Browns as they look to add more talent to their roster next month?
Here are a handful.
Will Howard stole a bit of the spotlight
Throwing to Johnson, Stover, and some other smaller school receivers was none other than quarterbacks Will Howard and Devin Brown. A glimpse into the quarterback battle this offseason, this was the first time Howard has thrown in front of media. And it took a little bit of shine off of the actual 2024 NFL draft prospects.
Even after the event, Howard was swarmed by media as the prospect scrums were more manageable to wiggle into.
How did he look though? From just one man’s set of eyes, Howard was the more accurate quarterback and the more on-time quarterback. While Brown might have a good amount more velocity on his throws, there is no doubt Howard was the more precise.
Not that any of this matters to the Browns or the 2024 NFL draft though.
It was the Michael Hall show (and the Browns are interested)
Of the players who are actually participating in the 2024 NFL draft in a month, defensive tackle Michael Hall stole the show. Reportedly weighing in around 299, Hall still ran a blazing 4.75-4.78 40-yard dash (again no times reported but hearsay). He then leaped to a whopping 9-foot-5 in the broad jump.
When he took the field for defensive line drills (with defensive ends Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau) and Hall looked like the fluid athlete he is on tape. And guess what?
Hall told me afterward that he had a formal meeting with the Browns, and The Athletic’s Zac Jackson has reported that he will visit with the Browns before the draft in Cleveland as well. This will not count as a top-30 visit for the Browns as he is an in-state talent.
The Browns basically decided to run it back at the defensive tackle position through free agency, but with three guys on one-year deals, Hall would make an excellent selection to be the long-term starter upfront for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
Don't bet against Xavier Johnson
Another player who confirmed to me that they have met with the Browns in some capacity was wide receiver Xavier Johnson.
While Johnson is no surefire prospect to be drafted in the 2024 NFL draft, he is a hard guy not to root for. During his time at Ohio State Football, it took Johnson some time to see the field. However, he hung around, stuck it out, and became a Swiss Army knife for the Buckeyes.
He played wide receiver, he played running back, and he was a core special teamer. This will be his pathway to the NFL. He told me he would relish the type of career Matthew Slater just retired with, doing the dirty work as a Pro Bowl special teamer for over a decade. Johnson did whatever he was asked to do at Ohio State and will have that same mindset as he enters the NFL.
And I would not bet against him making a 53-man roster.
Could Cade Stover be a fit for the Browns' TE room?
Expect the Browns to draft a tight end.
With Harrison Bryant, a TE3 type, getting $3.5 million on the open market with the Las Vegas Raiders, that is a pretty penny to pay for depth. Instead, the Browns will more than likely head to the 2024 NFL draft with the mindset to take one. And Ohio State’s Cade Stover may just fit the bill.
During Ohio State’s pro day, Stover did not drop a single pass. This should not be surprising for a player who dropped only two career passes (including none in all of 2023). And while he needs to work on his blocking a bit, something he’s well aware of, there is a lot to like from the fifth-year senior. Especially if you can get the nearly 24-year-old on Day 3.
The Browns have a long-term tight end in David Njoku. However, NFL teams are running more 12 and 13 personnel than ever. Jordan Akins is a cheap receiving threat that the Browns have no reason to cut, and newly added Giovanni Ricci likely rounds out the room as the flex/fullback. This leaves room for a true TE2.
The Browns would not have to surrender a top-30 visit to bring Stover in, who already confirmed he was meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals. Could he stay in Ohio as he heads to the NFL next month and come north instead?
Catching up with Dawand Jones...
Guess who else was hanging out at Ohio State Football’s pro day? Browns’ offensive tackle Dawand Jones.
I had the chance to catch up with Jones for a bit and ask him a few questions. Among the topics talked about, Jones expressed his excitement to play under Andy Dickerson, the offensive tackle room entering 2024, and his season-ending knee injury.
Jones stated that he has been out of rehab for three months and is feeling 100 percent. There is no reason to think there will be any setbacks as he will be ready for training camp. He also stated he has talked a bit with Dickerson, but the coaches have had a busy offseason. Jones is excited to get to work with him though.
Finally, Jones told me he does not pay attention to the noise of having three starting offensive tackles on the roster. Nor should he as he is the last one who will be moved or benched heading into 2024. As for who he’ll play with? That will be the million-dollar question.
