The Cleveland Browns have had mock draft after mock draft placing a wide receiver to them with the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. It makes sense as receiver is a big need for the team. That may be even more true with Jarvis Landry airing his concerns on social media in advance of a big decision the team has to make on his contract.
With free-agent receivers rarely becoming success stories for their new teams, the Browns could be limited to trades and the draft to fill their need at the position. Given the recent history, passing offense wins championships so receivers are needed.
In his 2.0 NFL Mock Draft, Daniel Jeremiah went in a different direction for Cleveland with the 13th pick:
Pick 13 Cleveland Browns
George Karlaftis Purdue · Edge · JuniorThe Browns will need to continue to reinforce their pass rush, especially if they lose Jadeveon Clowney in free agency. Karlaftis didn’t post huge sack numbers at Purdue, but he provided consistent pressure.
Karlaftis could be a very good edge rusher and fills another area of need for the Browns.
Jeremiah has USC’s Drake London as the first receiver off the board with the seventh pick with Chris Olave (17), Garrett Wilson (19), Treylon Burks (25) and Jameson Williams (27) also off the board in the first round.
If Cleveland has Karlaftis or another defender rated that much higher than a receiver, they are likely to go in that direction. What could be interesting is if Andrew Berry then looks to trade up from the second round to catch a falling Burks or Williams and get two needs filled in the first round.
How would you feel if the pick is an edge rusher instead of a receiver?