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Browns make a shocking first pick in A to Z Sports’ latest NFL mock draft

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated 4/21/24

Cleveland Browns have a few areas of the roster that stand out for them to add a rookie early on in the 2024 NFL Draft to the mix.

The Browns could use depth at offensive tackle, defensive tackle, and wide receiver. For months now, those have been the most talked about positions for the Browns at pick No. 54 in next week’s draft.

There is a chance that the Browns go for the best player available and they appear to have gone that way in A to Z Sports’ latest mock draft by Destin Adams.

Browns select Minnesota S Tyler Nubin No. 54 overall

Nubin is the pick for the Browns here and he is perhaps the top safety in what is a not-so-good class for the position overall. According to the mock, the following players were still available that would have been a better fit.

Michigan, DT, Kris Jenkins
BYU, OT, Kiran Amegadjie
Houston, OT, Patrick Paul

Nubin has been very productive over the last three seasons with Minnesota. Last season he had five interceptions and combined for seven of them in the previous two seasons. Depending on how the board falls, there is a chance that Nubin is gone before this pick. The 6-foot-1 safety did not test well athletically during the draft process, otherwise we would not be talking about him.

Minnesota SAF Tyler Nubin’s ball skills are outstanding. He has ball hawk written all over him. SAF1 for me! pic.twitter.com/gOfKXwSVcE
— Full-Time Dame (@DP_NFL) February 24, 2024

Why best player available was not ideal for the Browns here

There is nowhere for Nubin to play in year No. 1 in Cleveland. Grant Delpit is the top safety option and they have money committed to Juan Thornhill to be the free safety. Nubin would be coming in to provide depth and special teams help and I think he’s a player that could play right away for a team that needs him more.

The Browns brought back veteran S Rodney McLeod to be their third safety in Jim Schwartz’s system since he is a player very family with it. Cleveland found Ronnie Hickman as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State last draft cycle and he had a role for them in in 2023. He and D’Anthony Bell are the third and fourth safety spots currently. While Nubin could offer a higher ceiling, the undrafted players are going to be cheaper for the Browns in an area they don’t have a big need right now.

Cleveland could be on the look for Mcleod’s replacement and even Thornhill to get cheaper in the future, but that does not have to happen in the second round with other areas of the roster being more important.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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