The 2021 Cleveland Browns roster, after several days of free agency, is finally starting to come into focus. The team’s likely draft options are becoming increasingly apparent.
Here is a brief review of your free agency during the first days of the signing period:
Additions
SS John Johnson
CB Troy Hill
DE Takkarist McKinley
ILB Anthony Walker Jr.
WR Rashard Higgins
K Cody Parkey
OLB Malcolm Smith
DT Malik Jackson
OT Greg Senate
OLB Elijah Lee
WR Jojo Natson
Now for the options!
My draft (no trades)
Using PFF’s simulated draft simulator, I think this draft makes a lot of sense for the Cleveland Browns, as Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski continue to model the roster with impact players.
Breaking down the draft, Kwity Paye immediately enters the Browns ’starting lineup against Myles Garrett. His incorporation is important in the long run and in the short term the Browns can give him time to develop behind Tak McKinley. Ifeatu Melifonwu brings a different dimension to the secondary with its length and athleticism. While Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams don’t move athletically, neither player is sized to match bigger receivers.
Jamin Davis might be considered out of the norm for the Browns, who don’t invest much in the defensive position, but their reach and overall athletics can be used to better cover closed ends in and out of the division. While Davis was a scope, Amari Rodgers can be considered a robbery. Rodgers has good explosiveness, good hands and could be a replacement for Jarvis Jandry after the 2021 season.
Milton Williams is a DE prospect in the 2021 draft class. He scored a RAS 9.98 out of a possible 10.00. It ranked 4th from 1325 DE from 1987 to 2021.
Projected split, sometimes unofficial.https: //t.co/lcjBKT8QyO #RAS pic.twitter.com/vVKuTKDegu
– Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 19, 2021
At the end of the draft, both Chubba Hubbard and JaCoby Stevens offer the Browns improvements in their depth and team athletics. Hubbard is an Olympic sprinter who has an amazing production profile in the state of Oklahoma. Stevens was a former five-star high school recruit and will give Joe Woods an athletic mud ball that he can model himself. With the final pick, the Browns selected Drew Dalman. While not a massive athlete, Dalman is technically solid and shows his ability to thrive in an indoor blockade.