The Cleveland Browns were one of the best stories in the NFL last season. They finally broke their playoff drought and defeated their division rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers on Super Wildcard weekend. Then the Browns almost pulled off a miraculous upset over the Kansas City Chiefs the next week at Arrowhead.
For a team that did not have superstar wideout Odell Beckham Jr. for a majority of the season and a beleaguered secondary, they shocked the entire football world. Heading into the offseason, the Browns made sure to shore up their secondary with the signings of John Johnson III and Troy Hill.
But they could also use more help in the secondary and on the defensive line, opposite of Myles Garrett. The Browns have the 26th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and could use it to address their defense.
Cleveland Browns 2021 Draft Picks
Round 1: No. 26, CB Greg Newsome
Round 2: No. 52, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
Round 3: No. 91, WR Anthony Schwartz
Round 4: No. 110, OT James Hudson; No. 132, DT Tommy Togiai
Round 5: No. 169, S Richard LeCounte
Round 6: No. 211, RB Dometric Felton
Team needs
Offense: Wide receiver
If there was a team need for the Browns on offense it is wide receiver. Now, they do not need to spend a first or second-round pick on the position. But they should explore the possibility of adding another dynamic receiver later in Day 2 or Day 3 of the draft.
Last season, the Browns received some production from sixth-round pick Donovan Peoples-Jones, who had 14 receptions for 304 yards and two touchdowns. If the Browns were to target a wide receiver in the draft, they should look at a deep threat to help stretch the field.
A few options could be Dyami Brown, Tylan Wallace, or D’Wayne Eskrdige out of Western Michigan. Emory Hunt of Football Gameplan has Eskridge listed as his seventh-best flanker wideout in the 2021 WR draft class and says that he’s a legit game breaker.
Defense
But when it comes to the defense, the Browns need an additional pass rusher or linebacker to upgrade that unit tremendously. If they go linebacker at No. 26, then Zaven Collins out of Tulsa would not be a bad way to go. Collins is one of the best linebackers in the class, who can almost do it for. This season for the Golden Hurricanes, he had 54 total tackles, 7.5 TFLs, four sacks, and four interceptions.
Dream first pick
If I was Andrew Berry, who is the Browns GM, I am running up to the podium to take Zaven Collins out of Tulsa. The secondary is better much set and with the addition of Johnson III and Hill, their issues last season should be rectified. Imagine adding a linebacker of Collins’ skillset, who can play either inside or outside as Emory Hunt. That’s dangerous and can give the offense and opposing quarterbacks something else to think about.