The 2024 NFL draft is about a month away, and after a great free agency period, the Cleveland Browns sit in an excellent spot going into the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit. With most of Cleveland’s roster holes addressed by general manager Andrew Berry, he has a chance to take the best player available with the intent of just adding depth. What better time for a 2024 NFL mock draft?
The team will not ask their rookies to do much in their first season, barring injury, and that’s a great way to develop young players. Cleveland has come a long way with one of the more talented rosters in the NFL, and that’s why the team will be extending its head coach and general manager this off-season.
With the big money the team has invested in the offense, adding more playmaking at a low cost will help the team balance the books. In this mock draft, I add depth at some key positions that the Browns had to tap into with all of the injuries last season.
Round 2, Pick 54: Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
The Browns don’t have much behind David Njoku at the tight end position after Jordan Akins’s disappointing year in 2023. Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders could change that as a dynamic playmaker at the position. He is a plus athlete and polished route runner who can create explosive plays after the catch with his physicality and athleticism.
His strength and physicality are weapons in the red zone, and his ability to make contested catches is fun to watch. Plainly put, he is a great separator who knows how to get as much yardage as he can play after play.
Happy Birthday to Ja'Tavion Sanders
Here he is fighting for 49 yards on a pass from Quinn Ewers
Texas Longhorns at Baylor Bears
Sept. 23, 2023 pic.twitter.com/Nsmy1PjtcB— Longhorn🤘Highlights (@LonghornClips) March 27, 2024
Round 3, Pick 85: Dominick Puni, OT, Kansas
Kansas offensive lineman Dominick Puni is one of my favorite players in this class because of his ability to play so many different positions. Puni can play at all five positions along the line of scrimmage, including center, and he showed off his versatility at the Senior Bowl. With the Jayhawks in 2023 was the team’s left tackle after being the team’s starting left guard the year before.
Puni allowed just 15 total pressures and zero sacks the past two years combined as an elite pass blocker. His hand placement and leverage are fantastic as a pass blocker, and he has great athleticism when taking on the twitched-up pass rushers opposite him. His ideal arm length and physical tools bode well as a future starting left tackle in the NFL.
Puni can enter the league as a chess piece that could step in anywhere right away as a pass blocker.
Round 5, Pick 156: Kamal Hadden, CB, Tennessee
Kamal Hadden saw his season end early with a shoulder injury, but before that, he was one of the best cover corners in college football. With the Vols last year, he only allowed a 36.4% completion when he was targeted in coverage. Hadden is a good athlete with great instincts and a high football IQ.
He can get a little handsy, but he plays with nice physicality and isn’t afraid of contact as a run defender. Hadden has to improve his footwork and some of the more technical aspects of the game, but he could be a great value on day three of the draft.
Kamal Hadden's second career interception was also the #Vols second takeaway of the game.
He immediately ran and pointed to someone in the crowd. pic.twitter.com/tn3pglDM0X
— Kellyanne Stitts (@KellyanneStitts) September 2, 2022
Round 6, Pick 206: Steele Chambers, LB, Ohio State
One of the more experienced linebackers in this class is Ohio State’s Steeler Chambers, who could be an interesting addition late in the draft. Chambers has good range and athleticism that allow him to cover a good amount of ground as a run defender. Some missed tackle issues stem from overaggression and poor technique, but he can make an immediate impact as a special teamer during his rookie season.
Round 7, Pick 243: Brian Ugwu, Edge, Miami (OH)
Looking for sleepers at the end of the draft, Miami (OH) has an intriguing prospect on the defensive line in Brian Ugwu. Possessing strong and violent hands, Ugwu gets off the line of scrimmage quickly, blending speed and power as a pass rusher. He has to clean up some of the technical sides of the game, but he has a solid pass-rush plan with multiple ways to win and could fight for a roster spot in 2024.
