The Cleveland Browns did not make a trade in the 2024 NFL Draft and stayed at all six of their scheduled selections to add new talent to the roster for the upcoming season and beyond.
Six new rookies plus a slew of undrafted free agents will now embark on what they hope is starting a successful NFL career.
Cleveland added depth in multiple spots on the roster, so let’s get straight into reactions on just what they did.
Not drafting a tight end was a mistake by the Browns
Going into the draft, just about every mock draft that you came across would have a tight end selected by the Browns at some point. Cleveland decided to not use any of their six picks on taking one.
In free agency, the Browns let Harrison Bryant walk and sign with the Las Vegas Raiders leaving them a bit short in that room. They did go out and bring in fullback/tight end Giovanni Ricci, but he has never been a pass catcher in the NFL really, just a blocker. The blocking is valuable to have, though it felt like adding a player who can do both in the draft made the most sense.
David Njoku leads the room and Jordan Akins is behind him. A third tight end behind them being a rookie could have made a lot of sense. Said rookie would have taken over for Akins when his time up in Cleveland came, likely after the 2024 season.
A veteran defensive tackle is now fighting for a spot on the Browns
Cleveland went into the draft needing a defensive tackle and they got him with their first pick. Michael Hall Jr. made a ton of sense for the Browns to take and they did. They got their 3-tech to develop into an eventual starter for them.
The Browns doubled down on the position and selected Cincinnati’s Jowon Briggs with their final pick of the draft in the seventh round. Briggs is a powerful player but making the roster is going to be tough for him.
At most, the Browns will likely keep five defensive tackles to roll into the season with. Sure, things like injuries or something else could sort out the issue, but as of right now, a veteran will be fighting for a roster spot.
You can pencil in Dalvin Tomlinson and Hall as two players who are likely going to make the roster. Shelby Harris has $4.5 million guaranteed on his contract, so he is not going anywhere either. Quinton Jefferson was just brought in as a free agent and he’s going to be on the team in 2024. When looking at the contracts, the final defensive tackle spot will come down to second-year player Siaki Ika, Briggs, and Maurice Hurst.
Hurst had a strong season as depth last year for 13 games before he was lost for the season. Health has been a concern his whole career and it is no lock he’s on the roster in 2024 with less than $2 million guaranteed.
Andrew Berry finally hit on a wide receiver draft pick
Drafting a wideout has been tough for the Browns lately. With Berry at the helm, they have never drafted a wideout earlier than the third-round and none of them have become more than back-end depth so far.
Anthony Schwartz, David Bell, and Cedric Tillman were all third-round picks with Schwartz already being off of the roster after last training camp. Bell came on at the end of last season and Tillman began to as well, but neither has shown they’re long-term pieces with the team.
In the fifth round, the Browns went out and drafted Louisville WR Jamari Thrash and I was instantly a fan of the pick. The new Browns wideout is a terrific route runner that creates separation consistently and that is something that Cleveland needs.
Thrash has solid 4.4 speed but lacks the physical build you would like from a receiver to be able to absorb contact. Cleveland won’t need a whole lot from Thrash as a rookie, but I expect him to carve out some kind of role and develop in Cleveland.
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