The Cleveland Browns entered this draft to look to the future and strengthen a spot in which they have already invested heavily. They did not give up an inch from their position. They didn’t falter at all in the two-day abbreviated draft.
Andrew Berry didn’t make a trade for the first time in his five drafts as GM. Berry believes the Browns are well-positioned for future drafts, and he didn’t feel pressured to make any action or fill any pressing needs. It’s hard to find pass-rushing defensive tackles, so Berry started and finished the draft with them. The Browns love to collect offensive linemen and knew their top players wouldn’t play forever, so they added Zach Ginter to their collection.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. is a Cleveland native who would be a dream come true, but the Browns didn’t choose Hall because of geography or affinity. They think he’s a great fit for Jim Schwartz’s defense and is athletic enough to be a destructive pass rusher for years to come. During the Ohio State-Michigan game in November, Hall took an awkward fall on Ginter, resulting in serious injuries to Ginter, breaking his tibia and fibula. Ginter and Hall are now teammates. The Browns view Ginter as a sturdy, intelligent and athletic lineman who will be a future starter.
“Mike’s passion and energy and Zach’s steady presence will add to our locker room,” Berry said. “I’m looking forward to seeing them work hard on the practice field.”
even deeper
Browns NFL Draft Picks 2024: Grades, Fits, Scouting Report
Berry said the Browns considered a trade on the final day of the draft, but the Browns chose not to add picks or reinforcements mainly because they liked the structure of their 2024 team. He said it was because he was there. They finished their draft on Saturday, taking wide receiver Jamari Thrush in the fifth round, linebacker Nathaniel Watson in the sixth round, and cornerback Myles Harden and defensive tackle Jowon Briggs in the seventh round. Two players were nominated.
Slash could be part of the team’s long-term plans if he is able to wean himself from his collegiate ways, which could open up a direct path for Watson to be a part of the Browns’ special teams this season. Watson led the SEC in sacks and tackles last fall, but was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in early 2023, as well as a felony arrest stemming from a drag racing incident in high school. Berry wouldn’t comment on how other teams viewed Watson, but said the Browns were happy with Watson’s personality.
Hall is only 20 years old and was not a full-time starter at Ohio State. But until the Browns knew what they really wanted and believed Schwartz would fill the role long-term, they applied long-term thinking to every draft and trade decision they made or didn’t make. I got to the point where I had enough. The next step for the Browns is to translate stability, organization and competitiveness into long-term success and postseason wins. It’s a realistic goal, but the chances of achieving it right away won’t change much this weekend.
pick
Round 2, 54th place: mike hall jr.D.T., OH
Round 3, 85th place: Zack GinterG., Michigan
Round 5, 156th place: Jamari SlashWR, Louisville
Round 6, 206th place: Nathaniel WatsonLB, Mississippi State
Round 7, 227th place: Miles HardenCB, South Dakota
Round 7, 243rd place: Jowon BriggsDT, Cincinnati
the most valuable choice
Watson is a sixth-round pick with nothing guaranteed. However, he will be given a chance to join the team by covering kickoffs, and his combination of size, speed and physicality will make him a player to watch. The Browns know they may not get much immediate help in this draft, but in Watson they get a player who led the SEC in tackles and sacks last fall. That’s at least noteworthy, right? After six years in college and a long wait in the draft, likely due to his arrest record, Watson arrived in Cleveland with a chance to make a name for himself — and maybe even settle into a thin linebacker corps. do not have. Berry said Watson may eventually be seen as a player smart enough to give defensive signals.
the most surprising choice
Slash. We got here with such a bland draft, and it feels like the Browns got there too. Slash wasn’t a return specialist in college, and while he was good at the college level, he doesn’t have any distinguishing traits at the NFL level. The Browns were going to add to their wide receiver group, but with the top few prospects gone, it looks like the Browns could have used a running back, edge rusher, or cornerback here instead. I feel like that. The Browns selected Ginter over a slew of wide receivers they saw at the Senior Bowl, as well as several wide receivers who were rated as potential early second- or third-round picks at the very least. In this draft, the team prioritized Zinter and inside offensive linemen over wide receivers.
the biggest question mark
The Browns don’t feel like their roster is perfect, but there aren’t many holes or questions either. They knew they didn’t have a lot of draft capital and thought it would be a good idea to draft primarily one year (or more) out. Still, it had to be difficult for Berry to resist the urge to trade down Friday night and add at least one pick in the fourth round. We won’t get a real answer as to whether sticking with Hall and Ginter was the right choice for a while, but for now, it’s clear that the Browns really value these players and have a few rookies. Suppose that he did not believe that he would do so. This season, 53 players will be on the roster. Ginter has said he has been cleared to return to soccer activities, but the foot injury likely knocked him down a few spots. The Browns will probably end up with a long-term steal.
remaining needs
If you believe 2024 is all about the health of Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb, and the team’s top defenders and their play commensurate with their salary levels, you won’t get much of an argument here. . The Browns’ top-heavy roster has enough talent and experience to return to the postseason, and the team’s moves over the past two years indicate that more veteran players will be added in the coming months. The Browns need more help at tight end, have little proven depth at linebacker and have uncertainty within their receiving corps. But Berry isn’t done yet, as last year’s post-draft additions of Darius Smith, Rodney McLeod and Shelby Harris proved. The Browns focused on keeping the team together and adding veteran insurance at running back in March. If Berry feels like he has a realistic goal, we could see that the owner is willing to spend big bucks to help the front office manipulate the salary cap and continue adding experienced players. I did. “I don’t feel finished in any (position) room,” Berry said.
Post-draft prospects
The Deshaun Watson trade is finally complete — the picks from there, anyway. The Browns gave up three first-round picks for a total of six picks in the past three drafts, but ended this draft with 123 picks. The Browns have their own pick in the first four rounds next year, and a window of contention is open only if Watson can get healthy and play consistently well. Most other teams in the league added depth and young talent that the Browns were unable to do this weekend, but the Browns have been preparing for this limited draft acquisition for a long time. They traded picks for Smith and Jerry Jeudy in this draft, and are mostly happy with where they are, assuming health and positive rehab reports over the next few months. The Browns were not willing to trade a future draft pick on Saturday, but Berry remains green lighted to add to the middle of the roster in the coming months.
(Top photo of Nathaniel Watson: Michael Wade / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
