Considering The Browns’ Options On Day 2 Of The NFL Draft

By all accounts, the Cleveland Browns got their guy in Thursday night’s first round.

“There are a lot of things I like about this kid,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said of first-round pick Jedrick Wills. “He has played a bunch of games down there at Alabama. He will turn 21 next month. I liked his makeup. I like his tenacity, his toughness, his intelligence, and then not to mention that he is a scheme fit for our team. Great movement skills. Plays with a nastiness. I think we got a winner, and I think we got the right person. I keep coming back to it and it is the truth: just trying to get some good players in here and some good people, and he fits the bill.”

“He was a guy for us where just his performance over the past two years at Alabama, the way that he attacked our Spring process and just the overall make of the individual, we thought he was a guy that really fit in terms of talent, make-up and need and was really just kind of perfect for us this evening,” said general manager Andrew Berry. “Jed, from our perspective, a very well-rounded skillset, great feet, athletic ability, coordination, advanced in pass pro and very physical in the run game. Just a really well-rounded player for us.”

With a left tackle secured, the Browns can move onto addressing other needs. Odds are, the team’s next picks — No. 41 in the second round and Nos. 74 and 97 in the third round, barring any trades — will address safety and linebacker, arguably the Browns’ two biggest remaining needs. Here are a few names to watch.

Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota safety

The son of an Ohio State star, Winfield Jr. could step in right away for the Browns and help the Browns on the back end in coverage on receivers and tight ends while also being able to step up into the box when ended. The major concern about Winfield Jr. is his health, as he had a season-ending hamstring injury in 2017 and a season-ending foot injury in 2018. But if he can stay health, he’s an intriguing player at a position of need.

Grant Delpit, LSU safety

Delpit is likely the other safety option if the Browns opt to fill that need with their second round pick. At 6’3”, he’s five inches taller than the 5’10” Winfield Jr. and doesn’t have the injury concerns. Scouts consider him to be an inconsistent tackler, but he still was the Jim Thorpe Award Winner in 2019 and was All-SEC two years in a row.

Tee Higgins, Clemson wide receiver

How much the new Browns leadership values receivers behind Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry is TBD. If they prefer a veteran option, Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins is probably gettable at a low cost and is certainly tweeting as if he’s still signed by the team. But if Cleveland wants to pick a receiver, maybe someone like Higgins or USC’s Michael Pittman Jr. will be an option in the second round. If the Browns want to wait and use one of their third round picks to pick a receiver, that might make more sense considering the expected scheme and the deep class of receivers available.

Jonah Jackson, Ohio State interior offensive lineman

If there’s a weak spot on the Browns’ offensive line, it’s at right guard. Wyatt Teller was serviceable last year and Chris Hubbard is still around to provide an alternative. But perhaps some competition there couldn’t hurt. Ideally in round three, someone like Jackson or Fresno State’s Netane Muti could be a smart pick to provide competition, be developed and provide depth.

Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State linebacker

Linebacker feels like a spot the Browns will add a body or two too even after picking Mack Wilson and Sione Takitaki last year. Someone like Davis-Gaither in round three might make sense, particularly if Wilson is penciled in as a starter at weakside linebacker, finding a middle or strongside option makes sense. Cornerback depth seems like another route the Browns could go too.