We have hit cold weather, so that means it is time to start firing up the 2024 NFL mock drafts. And for the 7-4 Cleveland Browns, they have one more season with no first round picks, but that does not stop them from adding talents like wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk and defensive tackle Tyleik Williams here.
When looking ahead to April for the Browns, their team needs remain relatively the same as they were a year ago. Last year, we knew they needed to target a wide receiver, a defensive tackle, another defensive end, and thought that offensive tackle could be the wildcard. And they drafted just those four positions with their first four picks in the draft.
This year, the Browns are playing rentals at defensive tackle in Maurice Hurst (please re-sign him!) and Shelby Harris and Jordan Elliott is about to see his rookie contract expire. The wide receiver room is lacking outside of Amari Cooper still, and another defensive end could be on the menu with Za’Darius Smith set to hit free agency after this season.
What can the Browns do with the seven picks they currently hold in the 2024 NFL draft? Find out here in this 2024 NFL mock draft.
Round 2, Pick 55: WR Ja'Lynn Polk, Washington
The Browns have invested a ton of draft capital into their wide receiver room, and well, it stinks.
Amari Cooper has a $20 million cap hit next season, but the room would be in shambles if the Browns opted to move on. Elijah Moore still has one more year left on his rookie contract, and he has a solidified role. We saw a glimpse of 2023 third rounder Cedric Tillman against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, but that has been just one showing all season.
Outside of the names mentioned, there may not be another salvageable wide receiver on the roster. Marquise Goodwin has been oft-injured and is on just a one-year deal. David Bell has caught just 28 career passes in his two seasons with the team, racking up just 33 receiving yards in 2023.
The Browns may be facing a steep task of overhauling their wide receiver room this offseason. Washington receiver Ja’Lynn Polk is an excellent start.
At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Polk is an explosive playmaker to every level of the field. His catch radius is outstanding as he has made play after play for quarterback Michael Penix this season.
Round 3, Pick 88: DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
What a turnaround it has been for the Cleveland interior defensive line this season. Going from the league’s worst unit a year ago at defensive tackle, to being among the league’s best, the Browns have gotten standout performances from that room.
The problem, however?
Only Dalvin Tomlinson and Siaki Ika (who has been inactive every game this season) are under contract beyond 2023. Shelby Harris and Maurice Hurst signed just one-year deals, and Jordan Elliott is in the last year of his rookie contract. While it would be great to see Hurst and perhaps Elliott re-sign, the veteran in Harris may be looking for more money than the Browns will be willing to offer.
Enter Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams. Michael Hall entered the season with all of the hype, but Williams may exit the better Buckeye defensive tackle. On the year, Williams has racked up a massive 10 tackles for loss and three sacks for the Ohio State defense.
Rookie control beyond just one season, and an upgrade up front, Williams to the Browns is a slam dunk here.
Round 5, Pick 136 (via CAR): LB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
There are plenty of reasons and room to celebrate and appreciate what Sione Takitaki and Anthony Walker Jr. have done in the Cleveland linebacker room. There is a desire to see the Browns re-sign Takitaki again this offseason.
However, it is wildly apparent that younger, fresher legs are needed at the second level of the Cleveland defense to pair with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. The Browns add Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman with their first fifth rounder here.
The 6-foot-3 and 230-pound linebacker has racked up back-to-back seasons of productive football for the Sooners from his linebacker post. With 68 solo tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two interceptions a year ago, Stutsman has followed that up this year with another 47 solo tackles, a massive 16 tackles for loss, another three sacks, and an additional interception.
The Browns get the fresh blood they need at the linebacker position here.
Round 5, Pick 157 (via PHI): RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan
The injury to Nick Chubb has exposed a ton about the other running backs in Cleveland. While Jerome Ford is getting better every week, he has yet to prove to be an efficient down-to-down back. Kareem Hunt likely hits the market again this offseason, and Pierre Strong Jr. has not proven a reliable blocker to keep him on the field.
Why not go after a back who has proven to do it all at Michigan? Running back Donovan Edwards gets overshadowed by Blake Corum, but has a tremendous skillset in his own regard. His rushing numbers have taken a massive dip this year, but he continues to prove to be an excellent third down back. He has even proven capable of winning from the slot.
Round 6, Pick 195 (via HOU): EDGE Jasheen Davis, Wake Forest
The Browns will always target ultra-productive players in the middle rounds at positions of priority. Those positions are wide receiver, pass rusher, and cornerback. This is what led the Browns to David Bell two years ago, and to Cameron Mitchell just a year ago.
Here, they find a defensive end who has stuffed the stat sheet at Wake Forest over the last two seasons. Jasheen Davis has racked up 43 pressures, 7.5 sacks, and 16 tackles for loss for the Deacons this season. This is coming off of a season where he already achieved the same heights in 2022.
Za’Darius Smith is likely walking after this season, and while Ogbo Okoronkwo and Alex Wright have proven dependable players, the Browns will always look for depth. They already have a depth piece in Isaiah McGuire, but add another one here in the sixth round of this 2024 NFL mock draft in Davis.
Round 6, Pick 208 (via BAL): IOL Layden Robinson, Texas A&M
The Browns have been forward-thinking their offensive line rebuild as veterans like Jack Conklin and Joel Bitonio get up there in age. Last year they hit a home run in the fourth round with right tackle Dawand Jones, and look to potentially have an interior offensive linemen of the future in Luke Wypler.
They keep that forward-thinking progression here, adding an offensive guard in Texas A&M’s Layden Robinson. While he was once thought of as an early rounder, Robinson has suffered as A&M’s program as a whole has suffered as well.
However, by getting him back in the lab with one of the best in the business in Bill Callahan, Robinson could find what once had him revered.
Round 7, Pick 238 (via ATL): WR Ricky Pearsall, Florida
Remember the discussion about overhauling the wide receiver room? Here the Browns take a second one in the 2024 NFL mock draft to take another step at achieving that goal. And what better player to add this late than the speedy slot receiver and gadget player in Ricky Pearsall out of Florida?
Elijah Moore is best when he is running routes down the field and not taking handoffs out of the backfield. David Bell has not taken hold of the slot receiver job. Here, Pearsall not only takes on a role that was ill-suited for Moore, but he also adds an element of explosiveness the Browns hoped Marquise Goodwin could.
He will be at the Reese’s Senior Bowl and he will test off the charts. Do not expect Pearsall to be sitting on the board in the seventh round by the time April rolls around.
Full recap of this Browns 2024 NFL mock draft
| Round | Pick | Player | School | Position |
| 2 | 55 | Ja’Lynn Polk | Washington | WR |
| 3 | 88 | Tyleik Williams | Ohio State | DT |
| 5 | 136 | Danny Stutsman | Oklahoma | LB |
| 5 | 167 | Donovan Edwards | Michigan | RB |
| 6 | 195 | Jasheen Davis | Wake Forest | EDGE |
| 6 | 208 | Layden Robinson | Texas A&M | IOL |
| 7 | 238 | Ricky Pearsall | Florida | WR |
