Drake Jackson would be the first pass rusher from USC taken by the Browns since Chip Banks in 1982. (USC Athletics)
Mock draft 3.0: Run on receivers leaves Browns turning to defensive line
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Welcome back, mock draft fans. It’s been a while.
Our last mock draft was posted just before the start of free agency. Then all heck broke out.
The Browns traded for receiver Amari Cooper and quarterback Deshaun Watson, losing their first-, fourth- and fifth-round picks this year – and their No. 1 picks plus two other picks over the next two years.
Superstars Russell Wilson, Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill were traded. And the Eagles and Saints consummated a complex trade involving only draft picks.
The end result is a drastically reconfigured first round.
Besides the Browns, Denver, Las Vegas and Miami will be watching the first round like the rest of us.
It left eight teams with two picks in the first round – the Lions, Texans, Jets, Giants, Eagles, Saints, Packers and Chiefs.
As things stand, the Browns are without a first-round pick for the first time since 2019. That’s why we’re mocking all the way to their pick in the second round, No. 44 overall.
First round
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
2. Detroit Lions: DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
3. Houston Texans: OT Evan Neal, Alabama
4. New York Jets: CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Cincinnati
5. New York Giants: OT Ickey Ekwonu, North Carolina State
6. Carolina Panthers: QB Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
7. New York Giants: S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
8. Atlanta Falcons: DE Travon Walker, Georgia
9. Seattle Seahawks: OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State
10. New York Jets: WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
Wilson beats out his former OSU teammate as the first wide receiver off the board.
11. Washington Commanders: WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
12. Minnesota Vikings: CB Derek Stingley, LSU
13. Houston Texans: CB Trent McDuffie, Washington
14. Baltimore Ravens: DE Jermaine Johnson, Florida State
Pass rush has been conspicuously missing from Ravens’ defense.
15. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Drake London, USC
16. New Orleans Saints: OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
17. Los Angeles Chargers: CB Trent McDuffie, Washington
18. Philadelphia Eagles: LB Devin Lloyd, Utah
19. New Orleans Saints: WR Chris Olave, Ohio State
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Malik Willis, Liberty
Mike Tomlin has attended every pro day of the top quarterbacks.
21. New England Patriots: LB Nakobe Dean, Alabama
22. Green Bay Packers: DT Jordan Davis, Georgia
23. Arizona Cardinals: WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
24. Dallas Cowboys: OT Tyler Smith, Tulsa
25. Buffalo Bills: CB Andrew Booth, Clemson
26. Tennessee Titans: WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DT Devante Wyatt, Georgia
28. Green Bay Packers: WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State
29. Kansas City Chiefs: DE George Karlaftis, Purdue
30. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Skyy Moore, Western Michigan
31. Cincinnati Bengals: C Tyler Lindenbaum, Iowa
Bengals pick up their fourth new starting offensive lineman of the transaction season.
32. Detroit Lions: OG Zion Johnson, Boston College
Second round
33. Jacksonville Jaguars: OG Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
34. Detroit Lions: QB Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
35. New York Jets: DE Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State
36. New York Giants: WR George Pickens, Georgia
Pickens might be the last best receiver the Browns would consider at No. 44.
37. Houston Texans: S Dax Hill, Michigan
38. New York Jets: LB Quay Walker, Georgia
39. Chicago Bears: OT Bernard Raimann, Central Michigan
40. Seattle Seahawks: DE Logan Hall, Houston
41. Seattle Seahawks: QB Matt Corrall, Mississippi
42. Indianapolis Colts: DT Travis Jones, Connecticut
43. Atlanta Falcons: S Lewis Cine, Georgia
44. Cleveland Browns: DE Drake Jackson, USC
A developmental speed rusher who edges out the next-best interior lineman on Browns draft board. This could change if the Browns sign Jadeveon Clowney before the draft.
