The Cleveland Browns have two major needs to address this offseason on the offensive side of the ball. Wide receiver is a huge need, as is offensive line, as essentially all of their lineman are leaving this offseason.
With picks No. 6 and 24 (from the Jacksonville Jaguars), the Browns will have plenty of ammo to address both of those needs in the first round this year.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. predicts the Browns will take a WR and an OT in the first round in his latest mock draft. But, instead of OT first and WR second, this time he predicts the Browns will take an 875-yard Ohio State receiver 6th and a 6-foot-7 Georgia OT 24th.
Mel Kiper Jr. predicts Browns to take Ohio State WR, George OT in Round 1
“Like the Giants, the Browns need offensive line and receiver reinforcements,” Kiper writes. “Unlike the Giants, the Browns have two first-round picks. So, although Francis Mauigoa is tempting here, Cleveland would likely take its pick of the entire WR class and kick the can down the order on the OL.”
The Browns could use both a wide receiver and an offensive tackle, and often in mock drafts, they’ve been linked to the top offensive lineman first.
This time, Kiper is predicting that Ohio State’s Carnell Tate will be the pick at 6th overall, and then down the board, the Browns would take Georgia’s Monroe Freeling at 24th overall.
Tate is coming off a solid year for the Buckeyes, recording 875 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 51 receptions. It’s the best season he’s had in his collegiate career.
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Freeling has only made 18 starts in his collegiate career, but as Kiper noted, “… he’s a solid pass protector.” With Shedeur Sanders dealing with pressure all last year, adding a pass-protecting OL is a priority this offseason.
With the high ceiling of Freeling, the Browns will be able to take a chance on a new offensive tackle who could anchor the offensive line for a long time.
Kiper’s mock draft, pairing Freeling and Tate, would be a great way to improve both of the most important positions the Browns need to address this offseason.
It’s a unique angle, as the Browns are going WR first and OT later, when the flip-side has been a very common mock draft route for the Browns this year.
