Mock draft watch: Latest from CBS sees Browns adding DE sizzle

Our Josh Keatley likes the choice but also offers several good alternatives too

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The 2021 off-season is here and there is no better way to kick it off than diving into the Draft possibilities for the Cleveland Browns. After an extremely impressive season, Cleveland actually drafts fairly late in the first round at number 26 and the pickings are not slim, but prospects that are viewed as locks such as Micah Parson and Zaven Collins are already off the board.

CBS expert Ryan Wilson, in his latest mock draft, provides Cleveland with a former Georgia Bulldog star in Azeez Ojulari and states the following:

“The Browns were middle of the road in getting after the quarterback and there is little depth behind Myles Garrett. Ojulari had a standout season for the Bulldogs and while he hasn’t drawn the national attention of Kwity Paye or Jaelan Phillips, he’s a legit terror off the edge.”

Ojulari has decent size for the outside linebacker position at 6’3″ and 240 pounds and was one of the more dominant edge rushers in the SEC last season. Ojulari broke out as a freshman in 2019 with 37 pressures and 5.5 sacks and followed that up with another 5.5 sacks in a COVID shortened 2020.

Other OLB Options:

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame, 6-1, 215 pounds:

For the second season in a row, Owusu-Koramoah led the Fighting Irish in tackles for loss after recording 13.5 in 2019 he recorded another 11 in 2020. Owusu-Koranoah would be an interesting and athletic chess piece for the Browns defense.

Nick Bolton, Missouri, 6-0, 232 pounds:

Bolton has two years of starting experience under his belt and led the Tigers in tackles in both seasons. PFF rated Bolton as the highest rated power-five linebacker for the 2019 season. Bolton is a sure tackler who rarely misses and we all know how bad the Browns can be at tackling.

 

Later Round OLB Options:

Chazz Surratt, North Carolina, 6-3, 230 pounds:

Surratt is a former quarterback who has led the Tar Heels in tackles the past two seasons with 115 in 2019 and 91 in the Covid shortened 2020 season. Surratt’s career is at an uphill trajectory as he was named All-ACC after changing positions in 2019 and was named All-American after this season.

Charles Snowden, Virginia, 6-7, 235 pounds:

A former division one basketball prospect for obvious reasons, Snowden has a rare blend of athleticism and size that has made him a terror off the edge for the Cavaliers and its hard to envision these traits not transitioning to the next level.