2 biggest Browns 2024 NFL Draft mistakes

While year four of the Kevin Stefanski era was far from stable for the Cleveland Browns, the team persevered and established a strong platform for success for the future. The Browns managed to win 11 games and secure a playoff berth despite starting five quarterbacks during the season as Stefanski earned NFL Coach of the Year honors. With star QB Deshaun Watson finally healthy, Cleveland will look to build on last year’s success in 2024.

Alongside Watson, the team added several talented rookies in the 2024 NFL Draft, including second-rounder Michael Hall Jr. — a defensive tackle from Ohio State — and Michigan guard Zak Zinter in the third round. Despite a solid draft class, these are the two biggest mistakes the Browns made in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Not adding a running back

Star running back Nick Chubb suffered one of the most horrific injuries ever witnessed on an NFL field last season. Chubb could miss more than half of the 2024 season as he recovers from his broken leg, leaving a less-than-convincing group of running backs to fill the void. Jerome Ford was Chubb’s main replacement last year. Ford averaged 4.0 yards per carry and had 813 yards on the season, but in 12 starts the youngster had just one game with more than 75 rushing yards. With one of the best offensive lines in the league in front of him and a rushing-heavy attack, one would expect more production from the Cleveland fill-in.

With Kareem Hunt in free agency, the team added a pair of veteran backs in D’Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines. Hines missed the 2023 season but can fill the receiving gap out of the backfield left by Hunt. As for Foreman, he was a decent substitute for the Chicago Bears last season but is a one-dimensional bruiser.

While this draft was not particularly deep for running backs, Cleveland should have considered adding a young rusher with a high ceiling to its current backfield. Florida State’s Trey Benson was available to the Browns at pick number 54 in the second round while Jaylen Wright of Tennessee and Marshawn Lloyd of USC were still on the board when Cleveland drafted was on the clock in the third round. The Browns used those picks to shore up the offensive and defensive line.

Taking Michael Hall Jr. in the second round

Not having a first-round pick is always difficult, but the Cleveland Browns still had second and third-round selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. With their first pick, the Browns took Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. Defensive tackle was a need for Cleveland, but was he the right pick at #54? This is by no means a bad pick for Cleveland. Hall fills a position of need and is a talented player, but Cleveland had bigger needs to fill than a backup defensive tackle with a third-round evaluation.

Wide receivers Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore will be free agents next offseason and none of the team’s recent mid-round picks at the position have panned out yet. Running back was also a need for a Cleveland team that could be without superstar Nick Chubb for much of the year.

This is a Cleveland team built to win now. Adding a backup defensive tackle to a defense that led the league in 2023 in total yards allowed per game instead of addressing more pressing needs could end up being a blunder for this Browns franchise.