The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Don’t be surprised if WR is an early selection
With Browns EVP of Football Operations Andrew Berry saying he will be drafting for the long-term this week, a receiver, such as Ole Miss’ Elijah Moore, could be a possibility with a pick in the early rounds.
The Browns are deep at wide receiver, but not so deep that Andrew Berry won’t consider targeting one in the first two days of the NFL draft this week.
Berry made a point in a recent Zoom call to say he is not looking for “instant gratification” with his nine picks in the draft that runs April 29-May 1 in downtown Cleveland.
“In general, how I view the draft is we really go into the mindset of really trying to maximize the long-term impact on our roster,” Berry said.
Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. start at wide receiver when healthy. Either Rashard Higgins or Donovan Peoples-Jones starts in three-receiver sets and the other lines up as the fourth receiver in some formations.
This could be the last season Landry and Beckham are together with the Browns. Beckham is scheduled to make $13.75 million in 2022. Landry will make $14.3 million in 2022 in the last year of the $75.5 million deal he signed in 2018 upon being acquired in a trade with the Dolphins.
Higgins is on another one-year contract. So taking a wide receiver makes sense even if the rookie doesn’t see the field much in 2021.
Seventeen wide receivers were drafted in the first three rounds last year — six in the first round, seven in the second and four in the third. This draft is even richer in wide receivers, according to NFL draft analyst Benn Fennell.
“I think there’s better talent at the top (this year), Fennell said. “I think there are more Day 2 starters. And I think there are more immediate Day 3 contributors and role players. Wide receiver has become a position that is very translatable from Saturdays to Sunday.”
The Browns have four picks in the first three rounds — 26 overall in the first round on April 29 plus 59 (second round) and 89 plus 91 in the third round April 30. They have five choices on May 1 on the final day of the draft — picks 5 (110 overall) and 27 (132) in the fourth round, pick 25 (169) in the fifth, pick 27 (211) in the sixth and pick 30 (257 overall) in the seventh round.
Bundling draft picks or trading a player (Beckham?) plus draft picks to jump into the top 15 to draft Ja’Marr Chase of LSU, Jaylen Waddle of Alabama or DeVonta Smith of Alabama would be “instant gratification” and run contrary to Berry’s vow. But the Browns should be able to sit tight at 26 and still get 5-foot10, 178-pound Elijah Moore from Mississippi if they are brazen enough to take a wide receiver with their first pick. Moore runs a 4.35 40-yard dash.
“Ultra-competitive slot target with the talent and mindset to handle a heavy amount of targets and shine in the process,” NFL. com analyst Lance Zierlein wrote in his draft analysis.
“He’s not very big, but he’s stronger than his measurables might suggest and he’s shown a fearlessness to make the catch despite impending punishment. Moore has the short-area quickness to snap off crisp routes underneath for separation and the play speed to challenge over the top as well as work the deep middle.”
D’Wayne Eskridge of Western Michigan is a 5-foot-9 speedster the Browns could target with their second round pick. He is not ready to start.
Amari Rodgers of Clemson and Sage Suuratt of Wake Forest could be wide receiver picks for the Browns in the third round.