After the first playoff birth since 2002 and the first playoff win since 1994, the Cleveland Browns are in a peculiar position in the 2021 NFL Draft. For the first time in 10 years, the Browns will be picking outside of the top-15. General Manager Andrew Berry has done a spectacular job luring free agents, like John Johnson III and Jadeveon Clowney, to Cleveland. However, there are still a few holes on the roster. This had led to many Browns mock drafts addressing these obvious needs early.
The Browns need to add a cornerback sooner or later to the secondary. With the status of 2019 second-round pick Greedy Williams up in the air, getting a corner in the first round would be ideal. However, corners in this draft have seemed to sky-rocket up draft boards, recently.
Another position of need for the Browns is interior defensive lineman. At 26, it’s likely that former Alabama IDL Christian Barmore will still be on the board. But according to multiple reports, his stock is trending downwards because of his “resistance to coaching.”
Other than those two positions, the Browns will need to add depth to the linebacking corps in the later rounds, along with adding another edge rusher later as well. With this all being said, is it possible the Browns decide to take the best player available at pick 26? For the first time in a while, the Browns could possibly have that luxury. Let’s project how things shake out in our Browns mock draft.
Why the Browns Should Draft WR at No. 26
The Browns do have one of the best receiving groups in the NFL, when everyone is healthy. On top of that, the Browns are definitely good at tight end, where they boast All-Pro tight end Austin Hooper, former Mackey Award Winner Harrison Bryant and the incredibly athletic David Njoku. So, while tight end should be out of the question, there is a case to be made for a wide receiver.
The Browns best two wide receivers on the roster, Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr., are only under contract until the end of the season. On top of that, both of them will be 29 once the season ends. It is believed that Rashard Higgins would love to play in Cleveland for his entire career, but for now, he’s on a one-year deal. That leaves Donovan Peoples-Jones as the only young wide receiver on the roster after this season.
The way the 2021 NFL Draft has been played out by mock draft experts across the league, it’s almost a guarantee that one of the top wide receivers in this draft class will be available at 26. Rondale Moore, the tiny but explosive speedster, can play almost any position on the roster. Rashod Bateman, the big pass catcher out of Minnesota, could also be there. However, one player who would look great in a Browns uniform is Terrace Marshall Jr. out of LSU. The 6-3 receiver played in seven games this year for the Tigers, racking up over 700 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Could the Browns add a receiver to the offense while still adding depth at defensive positions?
We’ll see, but for now, let’s go through out three-round Cleveland Browns mock draft.
Round 1, Pick 26: Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU
In this Browns mock draft, Caleb Farley, who is probably the third-best corner in the 2021 NFL Draft, gets picked up by the Jaguars with pick 25. That isn’t as bad as it may seem. Farley has had injury concerns throughout his college career. He’s had two back surgeries and tore his ACL at Virginia Tech. Honestly, the Browns already have a corner with potential, but injuries, with Greedy Williams. Enter Terrace Marshall Jr.
Marshall Jr. could be an excellent addition to the wide receiver room. He’s young, raw and has a lot of room to grow. Putting him in rooms with guys like Jarvis Landry and OBJ will give him a great example of how to succeed in the NFL. At the LSU Pro Day, the junior ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash. He’s explosive, fast and has strong hands, but is still raw. Learning from some of the best in the game will go a long way with Marshall Jr. The Browns don’t NEED a wide receiver, but adding a guy like Terrace Marshall Jr. would take the offense to the next level.
RELATED | Terrace Marshall Jr. NFL Draft Profile, Stats and Highlights
Round 2, Pick 59: Elijah Molden, CB, Washington
Elijah Molden is my favorite cornerback in the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s incredibly physical, and he has the agility and speed to cover the best receivers in the game. Standing at 5-10, the primarily nickel corner played in four games this past year, recording an interception. However, because of the shortened season, that doesn’t really provide the full story on Molden. For that, let’s go back to 2019 — his last full season played in college.
In 2019, Molden had 79 tackles, forced three fumbles and picked off four passes. He also had 12 passes defended. The most intriguing aspect of Molden is that, while he focused mostly on playing slot corner in college, some believe that he is capable of playing on the outside as well at a high level. While he may be shorter than GM Berry would have hoped, he’s a playmaker on defense. Getting Molden this late in the second round is a dream come true for the Browns. He could eventually grow into a player like Tyrann Mathieu, who is a game-changer.
Round 3, Pick 89: Tommy Togiai, IDL, Ohio State
GM Berry knows there is still some need to add depth to the defensive line. Going into the season, you would think Clowney and Garrett will get most of the snaps on the edge, with Takkarist McKinley rotating in when needed. On the interior, the Browns cut Sheldon Richardson and let Larry Ogunjobi walk during free agency. However, before this past season, the Browns acquired IDL Andrew Billings, who opted out of playing this year. Berry also brought in Malik Jackson in free agency. However, the interior still needs to add some young depth.
That is what they do here with their first pick in the third round. Tommy Togiai is going to be a run-stopper primarily for the early part of his career. At Ohio State this past fall, Togiai had three sacks and was consistently in the backfield against opponents. Instead of reaching for Barmore at 26, the Browns get Togiai in the third round, who should be able to put up the same numbers as Barmore stopping the run.
Round 3, Pick 91: Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina
What an interesting prospect Chazz Surratt is. He was recruited to North Carolina, by former head coach Larry Fedora. The catch? He was recruited to play quarterback. After red-shirting his first year on campus, he was named the starter the next season. He struggled with inconsistency and had multiple nagging injuries. So, Surratt decided to do something few players ever do. He made the switch from quarterback to linebacker before his redshirt-junior season.
The moved ended up being a good one, as he has been selected to the first-team all-ACC defense the past two years. Surratt has all the physical tools of a good starting linebacker in the NFL. However, at times, it’s very evident that he is still new to the position. The Browns will probably have five defensive backs on the field for the majority of the time this season, giving Surratt the opportunity to grow and become more familiar with Joe Woods’ defense. He can rotate in and out of the rotation while learning from guys like Anthony Walker and Sione Takitaki. He will be able to see the field often in his rookie year, but he’s a long-term investment.
RELATED | Day 2 Browns Cornerback Draft Targets
Browns Mock Draft Summary
While this isn’t what most Browns fans would have hoped for from a mock draft, it certainly makes sense for the team. Getting a guy like Marshall Jr. in the first round is a steal, as he could end up having a rookie season similar to Jerry Jeudy of the Broncos. Elijah Molden, at his best, is another Tyrann Mathieu. And even at his worst, he’s a solid rotation corner. Finally, while Surratt may not see the field much in his rookie season, he clearly understands the game of football. I mean, not many players decide to make the switch to defense from offense. Even less do so to change position from quarterback to linebacker. All in all, this is a solid first four Browns draft picks.
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