The NFL Draft is quickly approaching and teams around the league are finishing up draft visits with prospects and finalizing their boards.
Before we know it, mock drafts will be meaningless for the current cycle and the real thing will be here.
For the Cleveland Browns, it is the last draft they won’t have a first-round pick due to the Deshaun Watson trade from the Houston Texans. Hitting on their picks following the first round will be even more important this year.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his final two-round mock draft and the Browns are adding to the trenches.
Browns select Florida State DT Braden Fiske at pick 54 overall
“Cleveland, without a first-round pick as a result of the Deshaun Watson trade from March 2022, could look for a wide receiver or offensive lineman in Round 2, but I see depth along the D-line as a more pressing hole. Fiske, my second-ranked defensive tackle, had a stellar combine workout, showing top-level physical traits. He had 12 sacks in his two seasons at FSU.” — Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN
Cleveland did some shuffling at the defensive tackle position this offseason. The Browns let former draft pick of their own Jordan Elliott walk and brought in Quinton Jefferson in his place. Cleveland re-signed both Maurice Hurst and Shelby Harris after they excelled in 2023 on one-year deals.
Fiske is an elite athlete that the Browns would be adding to their defensive line rotation. The Florida State product runs a 4.7 40-yard dash and jumps 33.5 inches for his vertical. Fiske’s shuttle time of 4.37 shows off great agility.
In each of the last two seasons, Fiske recorded six sacks for the Seminoles. A player that could end up being a very good secondary pass rusher for a defense. I can’t help but think that a high-motor player who is quick off the ball won’t have a role in Jim Schwartz’s defense.
If the Browns do select Fiske, look past the fact that he is 24 years old. Cleveland doesn’t often draft older prospects, but they could bend the guardrail for this one. A good ball player is a good ball player and that’s what Fiske is.
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