Browns smartly address both sides of ball after long draft wait

The Cleveland Browns had to wait a long time to make their first selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, but they made their third-round picks count, addressing needs on both offense and defense.

With pick No. 74 in the third round, Cleveland selected Tennessee WR Cedric Tillman, after his former teammate Jalin Hyatt was selected just one pick earlier.

The 6-foot-3, 213 pound receiver played in a mere six games in 2022 due to injury, but posted 64 catches for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021.

"Tillman is the most physical receiver in the draft class. He's a safe bet as a possession receiver, as he dropped only five of his 104 career catchable targets," Pro Football Focus notes in its scouting breakdown of the Volunteers standout.

Heading to Cleveland, Tillman now joins Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore and Donovan Peoples-Jones in the Browns' new-look receivers room.

With their offensive selection out of the way, it was time for defense. With pick No. 98, Cleveland selected Baylor DT Siaki Ika.

"Ika is your 358-pounder who can still somehow make centers and guards miss one on one. He tallied a career-high 33 pressures in 2021 before seeing his play become a little more inconsistent this past fall," PFF writes.

The 22-year-old defensive tackle likely won't have to produce Week One, as he joins a defensive line that has added DT Dalvin Tomlinson and DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo in free agency this offseason.

The Browns still have six picks remaining for Day 3 (Rounds 4-7) on Saturday as they look to round out a roster that on paper looks ready to make noise in the AFC.