The Cleveland Browns

The Browns are an odd topic in the sense that their team got a lot better when Flacco took over. Their defense ended number 1 or 2 in basically every category and had the DPOY in Myles Garret. Flacco is gone though and Watson is now yet again looking to return to his old self which there has not been many glimpses of. Since they did not have a first round pick I will discuss their first four picks they had and give a grade then look into their future.

With their first pick being at 54 the Browns took Mike Hall Jr (DT). Mike really stormed on this year and flew under the radar in my opinion having looked better at getting through blocks then Kris Jenkins who the Bengals took at 49. Where Hall does lack is the size, being 6’2 280 pounds he doesn’t bode well against those huge interior bodies he will be going up against in the NFL. Not saying he is an Aaron Donald but there is hope from what Donald was able to do being an “Undersized” guy.

Pick number 85 came with a guy that has seen an insane amount of snaps in Zak Zinter (OG). Zak was a part of the National Championship team in Michigan and logged 2,300 snaps on the offensive line. Zak is a guy that is going to be able to be a leader early and have the ability to make an impact very quickly into his career. I think this was the best pick of the draft for the Browns.

Round 5 and pick number 156, Jamari Thrash (WR) brings some good shifty deep threat speed that the Browns are looking for. Amari Cooper can do it all but allowing him to be the route technician he is will create more opportunity for the team. Thrash’s 2023 season was a bit less productive than 2022 but non the less he has shown his ability to get open and be an impact player for the Browns.

At pick 206 Nathaniel Watson (LB) was selected out of Mississippi State and was taken to be the Browns’ Tackling machine. Watson at 6’2 245 pounds might be a little smaller to meet some guys in the hole but his weight and getting him running down hill will be tough for opposing Running Backs. He will probably start rotationally but could gain a huge role baring injuries.

With not having a first round pick I think the Browns scouted pretty good and grabbed some solid role players. I think Zak is the only one that can be an impact player out of the gate but anything can happen. I will give the Browns a C+ for their draft. The future is really up to Watson at this point, similar to the Steelers the defense can only do so much and in the playoffs you have to have a guy under center that can be calm under pressure and deliver when needed. I think a playoff win is a great year for the Browns, a super bowl is just not in their cards from what we have seen from Watson so far.