The dust has barely settled from the 2022 NFL draft and quickly we can turn a little bit of attention toward the 2023 NFL draft. Monday we will have a way too early 2023 Cleveland Browns mock draft just to give a taste of what could be a year from now.
As we know, so much can change in a year. Last year at this time, the Browns were riding high coming off their playoff run, looking at getting a healthy Odell Beckham Jr. back from injury and having had a great offseason in free agency and the draft.
The team would also pick up the fifth-year option on Baker Mayfield’s contract.
A year later, so much has changed.
As of the Sunday after the 2022 draft, Cleveland is scheduled to have eight picks in the 2023 version. Despite trading away a first and third-round pick as a part of the Deshaun Watson trade, the team still has more picks than there are rounds in the draft.
Besides other trades, it is possible that the Browns could add another pick if Glenn Cook is hired as a general manager after getting strong consideration this offseason.
Cleveland’s currently scheduled selections (Their own unless otherwise noted):
- Second Round
- Third Round (Either their own or the compensatory pick awarded for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah getting the GM job in Minnesota)
- Fourth Round x 2 (Their own and Vikings from 2022 draft trade down)
- Fifth Round x 2 (Their own and Los Angeles Rams’ from the Troy Hill trade)
- Sixth Round
- Seventh Round
With a lot of big contracts, it will be vital that Andrew Berry and company build a solid base of young talent through the draft. Not all of them will be stars but they need to help on special teams and be able to step in due to injuries throughout their four-year contract.