The 2024 NFL Draft is upon us, and for the third year in a row, the Cleveland Browns will not be selecting in the first round, as the Deshaun Watson trade from 2022 will finally see Cleveland off the hook to the Houston Texans. Considering how many years the Browns botched their first round selections ever since they came back into the league in 1999, it has become strange not to see Cleveland up among the top ten selections, as they routinely seemed to be located.
The Cleveland Browns will not pick until the 54th overall selection in the second round, which will not take place until Friday evening. Even then, Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry has shown a willingness to trade back, gaining additional selections, so it is not entirely far-fetched that Cleveland will not make a pick until the conclusion of the second day of the NFL Draft on Friday evening.
As for who the Browns may be targeting? How do you like this for a cliche answer - "The Best Player Available".
The reality is that Cleveland could go any number of ways with their selection, such as the aforementioned trade back, and could decide to address any number of positions. My belief is that if there is a player along either the offensive or defensive lines that Berry and Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski both agree upon, the Browns will take that player to build up their depth along the lines. My personal hope is that it will be Ohio State DL Michael Hall, Jr. Hall is from the Cleveland area, and could help supplement an already-strong Cleveland defensive line.
Speaking of Ohio State, and I addressed this in my latest article for Scarlet and Game, I believe Ohio State players will be waiting for Friday and Saturday to have their names called. Obviously, I hope I am mistaken, but Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison, Jr. seems to be the only Buckeye who has garnered first round projections. Perhaps I will be proven wrong. No matter, here is my article about how Ohio State players may want to spend their 2024 NFL Draft weekend.
Minnich's Musings On The (Now Former) Buckeyes & The 2024 NFL Draft
As for how the top ten picks may go, as my good friend Tim always asks me to project this...
1. Chicago: QB Caleb Williams, USC - Let's see if Chicago helps Williams more than they did Justin Fields
2. Washington: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU - Has kind of a Lamar Jackson vibe, but I question whether Washington has the proper infrastructure set up to allow him to succeed.
3. New England: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina - Very raw, but talented. New England will need to take their time, but the Patriots are banking on Maye's long-term potential, as they see him like a Josh Allen-type.
4. Arizona: WR Marvin Harrison, Jr., Ohio State - The Cardinals will be tempted to move down, but Harrison is the best WR in this year's draft. Minnesota could make a trade up here, as well as the NY Giants.
5. Minnesota (Projected trade from LA Chargers): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan - Jim Harbaugh wants OL, and gets to move back with extra picks from the Vikings. The Vikings move up to take McCarthy, but I am skeptical about if McCarthy is truly worth it (Yes, I know I am an Ohio State fan. McCarthy never had to carry Michigan, and his downfield passing was sometimes inconsistent when he was under pressure.).
6. NY Giants: WR Malik Nabers, LSU: The Giants could be trying to move up for a QB, but it may be better to build up the WRs for Daniel Jones instead.
7. Tennessee: OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame: As solid a pick as someone could make for an OT. Listed at 6'9", 321 pounds, Alt is the kind of lineman you can plug into the lineup for ten years and not worry about that position.
8. Atlanta: DE Dallas Turner, Alabama: Could be Texas interior DL Byron Murphy here, but Turner is another solid choice, just like Harrison or Alt would be in the top ten.
9. Chicago: WR Rome Odunze, Washington: The Bears may move down again for additonal picks, and I was tempted to go with Byron Murphy, but Odunze could be the type of playmaker Caleb Williams needs to get his Chicago career started off on the right foot.
10. NY Jets: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia: Another offensive weapon for QB Aaron Rodgers.
