The Cleveland Browns’ defense is one of the biggest bright spots of the 2023 season, and the most recent Draft Wire 2042 NFL Mock Draft has them adding to the already-stout unit with their first two selections.
The Browns still don’t have a first-round pick after handing it over to the Houston Texans for Deshaun Watson, so Cleveland won’t draft anyone until the second round – barring any trades.
In this mock, Cleveland takes LSU defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo with their second-round pick and Georgia safety Javon Bullard with their third-round pick.
Wingo is a 6-foot-1, 275-pound defensive lineman who began his college career at Missouri as a freshman in 2021. He transferred to LSU in 2022.
Wingo has tallied 5.5 sacks in 33 games with 95 total tackles and 11 tackles for a loss. In 2023, Wingo has 2.5 sacks and 22 total tackles. He is, however, dealing with a lower-body injury and, according to head coach Brian Kelly, will miss some time this season as he recovers.
Bullard, meanwhile, is in his third season for Georgia. He’s a 5-foot-11, 180-pound safety who had 3.5 sacks in 2022. Bullard was one of the biggest defensive standouts in Georgia’s win in this past season’s College Football Player National Championship when he picked off TCU quarterback Max Duggan twice and recovered a fumble in the Bulldogs’ 65-7 win over the Horned Frogs. This season, Bullard has 15 solo tackles and three defended passes in five games.
The Browns don’t necessarily have hard needs at defensive tackle or safety right now, but they could in 2024. Three interior defensive linemen – Shelby Harris, Maurice Hurst and Jordan Elliott – and two safeties – Grant Delpit and Rodney McLeod – are impending free agents. Delpit is the most likely of the five to return, but Harris and McLeod will be 33 and 34 by next season, respectively.
Wingo and/or Bullard might not be starting-caliber players now, but they’d at least be solid depth players who could turn into quality contributors in Jim Schwartz’s defense.
