Mock Draft Watch: Latest from Fox Sports sees Browns going DE early

This one offers some different ideas on upgrading the pass rush

It is mock draft season and the next mock draft to review came from Jason McIntyre of Fox Sports. This one sees the Cleveland Browns selecting a defensive end from Penn State. Clearly the goal of McIntyre was to add some help on the edge, and in this hypothetical both Kwity Paye and Gregory Rousseau are already off the board.

The edge help that McIntyre was looking for ended up being Jayson Oweh from Penn State. McIntyre notes the following:

“The knock on Jayson Oweh is lack of production – not a single sack last season – but his testing and measurements will be off the charts. Combine that with his size, and there’s no way he isn’t going in the first round.”

Oweh was typically seen on the strong side on the Nittany Lions defensive front and saw great improvement in 2020 under new defensive line coach, John Scott Jr.. Despite not having a sack he created consistent pressure and has shown that he has star potential.

Other DE Options:

Carlos “Boogie” Basham Jr, Wake Forest, 6-5, 275 pounds:

Basham is another first-round prospect that was selected four spots later in this mock to the Buffalo Bills. He was easily one of the most impactful players in college football the last two seasons and is still underrated. Basham would have likely been a first-round selection in 2020 and his stock is only rising heading into the 2021 Draft.

Jaelan Phillips, Miami, 6-5, 266 pounds:

Phillips was a hot free agent last off-season after deciding to transfer from UCLA. He was once the number ranked recruit in the 2017 class being ranked ahead of other stars like Jerry Jeudy, Jeff Okudah, Tua Tagovailoa & Chase Young and that potential that was seen in 2017 is still more than obvious today.

Later Round DE Options:

DeAngelo Malone, WKU, 6-4, 230 pounds:

Malone has been mocked in the middle rounds, but has shown early-round tape the last two seasons as he has earned first-team All-C-USA honors in 2019 and 2020. Malone led the Hilltoppers in sacks with six in a COVID-shortened season.

Malcolm Koonce, Buffalo, 6-3, 250 pounds:

A Senior Bowl invite, Koonce is being mocked in the late rounds, but has the upside of most early-round prospects. Koonce has been the backbone of one of the more dominant and experienced MAC defensive fronts the past two seasons and has led the Bulls in sacks in 2019 with nine and in 2020 with five.