Calm Before The Storm: Cleveland Browns Mock Draft 7.0
After months of debate, countless film breakdowns, and league wide controversy for such an talented football team: The Cleveland Browns are officially only 1 day away from their most challenging draft in franchise history – no 1st or 2nd round picks this year.
With the likes of stars such as Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, & JOK, we still lost games in the most spectacularly pathetic ways possible; ruining historic performances by superstar RB Nick Chubb.
So, what should the Browns do now? When it comes to Cleveland Sports, there’s no better network than CST to talk about the future of the Cleveland Football.
With that being said, Who will the Cleveland Browns pick and how can these sleeper picks be used to win a Super Bowl for Cleveland?
Let’s predict what the Cleveland Browns masterminds like Andrew Berry, Paul DePodesta, Catherine Raiche, Glenn Cook, & Jimmy Haslam will do on April 28th and 29th:
__________________________
- 74th Overall Draft Pick (3rd round) – Siaki Ika, DT, University of Baylor
Insight: A total enforcer in the middle of the trenches, Siaki Ika plays with pain on his mind, making it a challenge for any offensive lineman trying to block him.
A 330 pound plug-and-play giant that won’t show up in the stat column like he’s Aaron Donald or anything, but shows up on film causing a problem for RBs planning to run up the middle, he would be DT2 instantly and a great developmental player to learn behind DT1, Dalvin Tomlinson.
Career Achievements: Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year (2021), & 2× first-team All-Big 12 (2021, 2022)
6’3”, 358 lb. Humans shouldn’t be able/allowed to move the way that Baylor NT Siaki Ika does. A literal mammoth-sized DT with a fairly refined pass rush repertoire at 22 years old? YES PLEASE. The #Browns should be praying that he’s available in round 2.
pic.twitter.com/L5W7pvYMyp— Matt Wilson (@CoachWilson66) December 9, 2022
Ideal Role: Nose Tackle that plugs into gaps; stops the run game constantly
Age: 22 years old
Height/Weight: 6’3”, 358lbs
Arm Length: 32 3/8”
Hand Size: 10 ¼”
Draft Comparison: Former Cleveland Browns DT Danny Shelton
__________________________
- 98th Overall Draft Pick (3rd round) – Olusegun Oluwatimi, OG/C, University of Michigan
Insight: The reigning Rimington and Outland Trophy winner expects to make an effortless transition to the NFL just on talent alone, you put him on a team that has Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio as the veterans and he instantly becomes the future of the Cleveland Browns offensive line.
His ability to disengage and reset hands when blocking is a true gift that most offensive linemen struggle to adjust to with game speed involved, Oluwatimi is a warrior in every sense of the word and would be loved in Cleveland if drafted here.
Career Achievements: Second-team All-ACC (2021), Second-team All-American (2021), First-team All-Big Ten (2022), Consensus All-American (2022), Rimington Trophy (2022), & Outland Trophy (2022)
Falling in love with Michigan C Olusegun Oluwatimi
-Outland Trophy Winner
-Zero sacks allowed in 2022
-Great Anchor
-Solid Senior BowlGetting overlooked. pic.twitter.com/UgcetIT5v2
— Purple FTW! Podcast (@PurpleForTheWin) March 10, 2023
Ideal Role: Center that specializes in zone blocking
Age: 23 years old
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 310lbs
Arm Length: 32 ¾”
Hand Size: 8 5/8”
Draft Comparison: Cincinnati Bengals C Ted Karras
__________________________
- 111th Overall Draft Pick (4th round) – Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, Texas Christian University
Insight: The nephew of NFL hall of fame RB LaDainian Tomlinson, Tre’Vius exhibits levels of aggressive explosiveness just like his uncle did. The kid has been a star player for the TCU Frogs since day one and easily leaves the university as likely the greatest defensive player in school history, an absolute steal of a athlete if he falls to 111th overall.
For the Cleveland Browns, this pick would showcase the team’s ability to pick the best player available while also addressing a huge need for slot CB to manufacture the best coverage core in the AFC North to date.
Career Achievements: 2020 First-Team AP All-Big 12, 2020 Second-Team AP All-American, 2020 First-Team PFF All-American, 2021 First-Team AP All-Big 12, 2022 First-Team AP All-Big 12, 2022 Second-Team AFCA All-American, 2022 Second-Team FWAA All-American, 2022 First-Team Phil Steele All-American, 2022 First-Team ESPN All-American, 2022 First-Team Sporting News All-American, 2022 First-Team AP All-American, & 2022 Jim Thorpe Award Winner
"Someday I'll be able to say that I had success just like my uncle."
Trevius Hodges-Tomlinson shares what he's learned from his uncle, LaDainian Tomlinson, on and off the field 💜 pic.twitter.com/ZghjOHBf7L
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) January 10, 2023
Ideal Role: Slot CB; Versatile enough to play a lot of man coverage as a starting outside cornerback
Age: 23 years old
Height/Weight: 5’8”, 178lbs
Arm Length: 29”
Hand Size: 8 5/8”
Draft Comparison: New York Giants CB/KR Adoree’ Jackson
__________________________
- 126th Overall Draft Pick (4th Round) – YaYa Diaby, EDGE, University of Louisville
Insight: Meeting with the Cleveland Browns on multiple occasions at this point of the draft process, it’s clear that the team wants YaYa Diaby a lot.
Diaby’s film is outstanding and his athleticism jumps out in a big way just like he did for Louisville defense last season, showcasing the punch-and-push technique while also separating at the point of attack to find the football wherever it goes – an athletic specimen with lack of production throughout his college career lands him at pick 126th.
Career Achievements: 2022 All-ACC Third Team
YaYa Diaby. My word. pic.twitter.com/1Ngo054gap
— Tyler Greever (@Tyler_Greever) December 17, 2022
Ideal Role: 4-3 Base DE; can also play DE in a 3-4 defense as well
Age: 23 years old
Height/Weight: 6’3, 263lbs
Arm Length: 33 7/8”
Hand Size: 10 3/8”
Draft Comparison: Indianapolis Colts DE Tyquan Lewis
__________________________
- 140th Overall Draft Pick (5th round) – Nick Herbig, OLB, University of Wisconsin
Insight: For a three-year starter at a football-first university like Wisconsin, what Herbig lacks in size and strength, he gains in experience and high energy plays. His ability to use such impressive agility to find a second gear when going after a QB is awesome.
You want a guy like that in the Orange and Brown, especially when more than 26% of his career tackles resulted in loss yardage. If the NFL’s strength and conditioning can get him right, he’s going to be a menace for any NFL franchise he gets drafted to.
Career Achievements: 2021 Academic All-Big Ten, 2022 First-team All-Big Ten (Consensus), 2022 CBS Sports second team All-American, 2022 Walter Camp second team All-American, 2022 AFCA second team All-American, & 2022 AP third team All-American
Ideal Role: Sub-packaged rusher that thrives in a 3-4 based defense; would love the physicality of AFC North football.
Nick Herbig could be a possible target for the #Browns in the draft.
2022 Season
-87.4 PFF Grade
-91.1 PFF Pass Rush Grade
-75.9 PFF Run Defense Grade
-11 Sacks
-17 Hurries
-15.5 TFL
-47 Tackles
-2 Forced Fumbles
-2 Pass Deflections
-35 Stops pic.twitter.com/mwEfa6BeLQ— KFC (@KFChristian_) April 14, 2023
Age: 21 years old
Height/Weight: 6’2, 240lbs
Arm Length: 31 ¼”
Hand Size: 9 ¼”
Draft Comparison: Pittsburgh Steelers OLB TJ Watt
__________________________
- 142nd Overall Draft Pick (5th round) – Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, UCLA
Insight: An athletic freak for a QB; with exhilarating runs and risky passes that would somehow hit his targets, people forget that DTR was a legitimate Heisman contender during the middle of the college football season last year.
DTR was ranked the #2 duel-threat QB nationally for Bishop Gorman High School and a five year starter for UCLA Football under head coach Chip Kelly, He’s a project QB that’s perfect for the Browns since the departure of backup QB Jacoby Brissett.
Use him on QB sneaks and trick plays whenever is needed, we need to protect Deshaun Watson as much as possible and it’s requires having a good backup QB just in case Watson goes down.
70 yards and the lead is back to 10!
Dorian Thompson-Robinson becomes UCLA’s all-time TD leader as he finds Logan Loya@UCLAFootball | @pac12 pic.twitter.com/kfifMtKfhs
— Porter Larsen (@Larsen_ESPN) October 8, 2022
Career Achievements: 2020 second-team All-Pac-12 by the league coaches, 2021 Phil Steele’s and AP’s first-team All-Pac-12 squad, 2021 second-team All-Pac-12 by the league coaches, & 2022 Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist.
DTR HURDLE 👀🔥@UCLAFootball pic.twitter.com/nv6ZtZsnv1
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 6, 2022
Ideal Role: Developmental QB that played outstanding in the UCLA spread offense
Age: 23 years old
Height/Weight: 6’1”, 203 lbs
Arm Length: 30 5/8”
Hand Size: 9 7/8”
Draft Comparison: Ohio State legend Braxton Miller
__________________________
- 190th Overall Draft Pick (6th Round) – Daniel Scott, FS, University of California
Insight: With six football seasons and the honor of being a team captain under his belt, Daniel Scott would be far from the usual Browns draft pick, but his special teams presence is valuable to new special teams coordinator, Bubba Ventrone.
Scott’s creative experience while playing in a variety of defensive alignments while at the University of California makes him a expendable piece of the Cleveland Browns defense that can become a star when injuries late in the season occur.
Career Achievements: 2021 first-team All-Pac-12 honors from Pro Football Focus, 2022 third-team All-Pac-12 honors from Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus
Cal’s Daniel Scott is no longer a “sleeper” after impressive @seniorbowl and elite Combine testing (RAS 9 out 882).
NFL teams looking for FS help know Scott isn’t flying under radars anymore.
Checkout range from oppo hash here: 👀#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ https://t.co/1akQNPtsuy pic.twitter.com/N3SCoCNTnQ
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) March 15, 2023
Ideal Role: Practice Squad player; developmental talent despite being 24 years old
Age: 24 years old
Height/Weight: 6’1”, 208lbs
Arm Length: 30 ¼”
Hand Size: 10”
Draft Comparison: San Francisco 49ers S Talanoa Hufanga
__________________________
- 229th Overall Draft Pick (7th round) – Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Youngstown State University
Insight: A three-sport athlete from North Carolina overcame homelessness at a very young age and limited scholarship offers, McLaughlin worked hard enough to soon become the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher after transferring from Notre Dame College to Youngstown State in 2020.
Jaleel McLaughlin’s rise is movie-like and he plays every down like a battle, every game is a war to a player of his statue. His track speed lead to his record breaking 8,166 rushing yards and he has showcase that he’s a steal for any team that drafts him this upcoming April. Any team that takes a chance on him will love his work ethic.
Career Achievements: Team Captain, 2021 Second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection, 2021 Third-team All-America selection by AP and HERO Sports, 2021 first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection, 2022 MVFC Offensive Player Of The Year, & NCAA’s all-time leading rusher (8,166 yards)
Jaleel McLaughlin is HIM 🥶
20 totes for 203 and 3 touchdowns 😤 pic.twitter.com/Tkji3jsqAs
— The Transfer Portal CFB (@TPortalCFB) September 4, 2022
Ideal Role: Fits in a outside/inside zone or power schemes with great hands to be a premier receiving back
Age: 23 years old
Height/Weight: 5’9, 183 lbs
Arm Length: 30 3/8”
Hand Size: 8 5/8”
Draft Comparison: Former NFL RB Dion Lewis
About Author
