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Right now, we are in the midst of a barrage of prospect pro days, and draft boards are fluctuating rapidly. The NFL Draft cycle is in full swing.
After the recent trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire Kenny Pickett, the Cleveland Browns have 10 picks in the upcoming draft, with five coming inside the top 104. That is enough ammunition to alter the future of the franchise. While we must wait 33 days to find out who the Browns select with the second overall pick, we can fill that time with rampant speculation. That's right, it's mock draft season.
At their core, mock drafts are a thought exercise. For this particular thought exercise, I fired up the Pro Football Network's Mock Draft Simulator, snagged the Browns quarterback of the future, and then traded back to raise the floor of the draft class. This is your Saturday OBR Mock Draft.
2. Cameron Ward, QB University of Miami
Just as I stated in my OBR Mock Draft 6.0, I would take Cam Ward without a second of hesitation. Well, Ward was available in this simulation, so he is the pick at number two overall.
We are at the end of a six-week cycle with the consensus regarding the Tennessee Titans' first overall selection. For the first two weeks, it was thought Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter would be the 'generational talent' that the Titans would not pass up. Then the next two weeks, it seemed Tennessee would trade their spot to the New York Giants. Now the consensus is that the Titans are going to select Cam Ward.
It remains to be seen if the cycle resets between now and April 24th, but either way, Tennessee holds Cleveland's draft fate in their hands. . In my view, for Cleveland, it is either Ward, Carter, or if a King's ransom is offered, trade back. The latter seems highly unlikely as we sit currently.
Ward is the most talented quarterback in this draft class by a wide margin. If he is put in an environment that allows him to reach his ceiling, Ward has the traits and skill set to compete with the elite quarterbacks of the NFL, like Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. If he is available, Cleveland has to take the swing on him, or even trade up for him if the opportunity presents itself.
TRADE ALERT! The Detroit Lions called Andrew Berry and proposed a trade. The Lions want to move up seven spots from 40 to 33. To make it happen, Detroit offered up picks 40 and 60 in exchange for picks 33 and 104. The trade was accepted and Cleveland netted 37 spots in the transaction.
40. Josh Conerly Jr., OT Oregon
6'4 5/8" 311lbs
Selecting Josh Conerly Jr. is an ideal combination of choosing the best player available and filling a critical team need. After five seasons, the Jedrick Wills experiment has come to a close, making it the right time to inject some youthful energy into the left tackle position.
Conerly has all the qualities needed to become a top-tier starting offensive tackle at the next level. In 2024, he showcased the best mobility of any left tackle in college football, though he will need to prove his ability to handle power before securing the starting role.
Cleveland has put an emphasis on bolstering their offensive line in free agency, and the selection of Conerly is a step towards cementing the future of their tackle position. The Browns would not be forced to thrust Conerly into action until he proves himself ready. It is a great spot for both Conerly and Cleveland.
60. Elic Ayomanor, WR Stanford
6'1 3/4" 206lbs
With the emergence of Jerry Jeudy as a premier slot receiver, the Browns must keep adding diverse skill sets to their wide receiver room. The selection of Elic Ayomanor does just that. Ayomanor is an outside threat that plays the game with a physicality and intensity that opposing defenses will be forced to respect.
The Stanford receiver has strong hands, a phenomenal catch radius, and enough straight-line speed to take the top off a defense. As a receiver, Ayomanor's play strength shows up most at the top of his routes enabling him to play through cornerbacks and whatever contact may occur at the catch point. He will need to refine his release package against press-man coverage and broaden his route tree from what he was tasked to do at Stanford.
If the Browns still adhere to their 'no block, no rock' philosophy, then Ayomanor will see plenty of opportunities come his way. Ayomanor is a tone-setter in the run game and is adept at finishing blocks in the open field to spring big runs.
Between Ayomanor and Cedric Tillman, the Browns would have a pair of physical boundary receivers capable of playing bully ball on the second and third levels. Opposing secondaries would have to keep their head on a swivel.
TRADE ALERT! John Lynch and the San Francisco 49ers dialed up Berry and made an offer to move up eight spots in the third round. San Francisco offered up picks 75 and 138 in exchange for picks 67 and 255. Cleveland accepted and immensely raised the floor of their draft class in the process.
75. Jared Ivey, DE Ole Miss
6'5' 7/8" 274lbs
The Browns have a type when it comes to strong side edge defenders, Jared Ivey checks those boxes. At just a hair under 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, Ivey is a defensive end who wins with power at the point of attack. Ivey is an edge-setter who consistently resets the line of scrimmage and plays with violent hands to disengage from blocks.
Ivey also has inside/outside versatility and can kick down to play in the b-gap when called upon. The Georgia native brings a similar skillset to Alex Wright in both physical attributes and play style. With Wright facing the final year of his rookie deal, the addition of Ivey would allow Cleveland to reset that roster slot with a fresh rookie contract while not losing the positional flexibility that Wright provided.
94. Elijah Arroyo, TE University of Miami
6'5 1/8" 250lbs
Landing tight end Elijah Arroyo at pick 94 would be a grand theft. In what has turned out to be a deep tight end class, Arroyo stands out for his explosive playmaking potential. At six-foot-five and 250 pounds, Arroyo possesses true breakaway speed and has the tools to be a game-changer in the passing game.
If the Browns are planning to incorporate more 12-personnel looks, Arroyo would be the ideal complement to fellow University of Miami alum David Njoku. The addition of Arroyo would also provide Cam Ward with some familiarity to help assist his transition as well.
138. Charles Grant, OT William & Mary
6'4 7/8" 311lbs
Although it's unclear whether Grant will settle in at tackle or guard at the next level, taking a chance on an athlete with his size and talent is definitely worth it. Grant started 41 games at left tackle for William & Mary and is an exceptional athlete, particularly skilled in executing the wide zone blocking scheme.
Offensive line prospects with Grant's frame and movement skills are few and far between, but he is raw. This is a developmental pick, but if the gamble pays off, Grant could secure a starting role on Cleveland's offensive line for years to come.
TRADE ALERT! This time Andrew Berry picks up the phone and calls Dallas Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones with a trade offer. The Browns offer pick 216 and a future fifth-round pick in exchange for pick 149 in this year's draft. Dallas accepts, and Berry uses the selection on a running back.
149. Ollie Gordon II, RB Oklahoma State
6'1 3/8" 226lbs
This running back draft class is as deep as any in the last 20 years, which comes at a good time for Cleveland. While the top-tier ball carriers in this class are getting the majority of the publicity right now, there are starting caliber running backs to be had throughout the entire draft.
That is exactly what the Browns are getting in the fifth round in Ollie Gordon II out of Oklahoma State. Had Gordon been draft-eligible in last year's draft class, he would have been no worse than a second-round selection. However, Gordon's down season in 2024 allowed other ball carriers to surpass his slipping draft stock.
The 21-year-old 226-pound running back is a downhill hammer between the tackles. What Gordon may lack in top-end speed he makes up for in versatility. While Gordon could easily serve as an early-down bruiser, he can also handle third-down responsibilities as both a pass protector and a receiving back.
179. Ty Robinson, DT Nebraska
6'5 1/8" 288lbs
Nebraska's Ty Robinson is one of the most underrated players in this draft class. A true backfield disruptor, Robinson regularly resets the line of scrimmage and overpowers offensive linemen with his physicality and a motor that has no off-switch.
His athletic performance at the NFL Combine highlighted why NFL teams should take notice: a 4.83-second 40-yard dash, 33.5-inch vertical jump, and a 9-foot-11-inch broad jump at 288 pounds. Robinson would be a great addition to Cleveland's defensive line rotation.
192. Kobe King, LB Penn State
6'0 6/8" 236lbs
Even with the unknown future of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, the Browns have a solid linebacker room. Throughout his tenure as the Browns' linebacker coach, Jason Tarver has been able to get the most out of the room, and many times that has included guys who were signed mid-season. The selection of Penn State's Kobe King gives Tarver an instinctual mike linebacker to mold and develop.
King is a physical presence with keen instincts and a proclivity for shedding blockers and getting ball carriers on the ground. King's ability to diagnose an offense's intentions in real-time separates him from other mike linebackers in this class. The current state of the Browns' linebacker room would allow King to be brought along slowly, but under Tarver's guidance, King could develop into the quarterback of the Browns' defense in the second half of his rookie contract.
200. Caleb Ransaw, CB Tulane
5'11 3/8" 197lbs
The Browns have focused on strengthening their slot cornerback position in their last two drafts. By selecting Tulane's Caleb Ransaw, they're now reinforcing the depth of their outside cornerback spot.
Ransaw brings solid length and impressive straight-line speed (a 4.33-second 40-yard dash) to the table, making him capable of matching up with opposing speed threats on the outside. With the starting cornerbacks already in place for 2024, Ransaw would have the opportunity to develop his skills while also adding depth to the position and providing value as a special teams player. Given his speed and physical dimensions the Browns could also cross-train Ransaw at free safety.