CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns’ offseason to this point has been a busy one. They started with numerous additions to try and address some key needs on defense, particularly on the defensive line.
But the last two moves have added speed and explosiveness at receiver as they traded for Elijah Moore and signed Marquise Goodwin.
Those moves mean that Andrew Berry can head into the 2023 NFL Draft with a lot of flexibility, similar to the situation he had for last year’s draft. Also like last year’s draft, Berry doesn’t have a pick in the first two rounds. He traded out of the second round in 2022 on draft day, and this year moved his second-round pick as part of the Moore trade.
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So he won’t have a premium pick in this draft. However, the Martin Emerson selection last year proved that immediate impact players can be found in the third round. It helps the Browns that they won’t need to necessarily draft for need.
What can the Browns’ draft look like after the Moore trade?
I try to answer that in my first Browns mock draft since the trade. I’ll go into their first four picks.
Height, weight: 6-2, 240 pounds.
2022 stats: 47 tackles, 11 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles.
Herbig’s ranking is quite different depending on who you ask. Pro Football Focus has him 58th, and The Draft Network has him at 168th. A big reason for that disparity is that it’s unclear exactly what position he will play in the NFL.
He played at about 228 pounds at Wisconsin and was an outside linebacker in the Badgers’ 3-4 base. But the fact that he showed up at the NFL combine at 240 pounds and not only ran the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds, but had a 1.6-second 10-yard split, shows he could potentially play the edge at the NFL level if needed.
240 pounds may be small for a 4-3 base end, but Ogbo Okoronkwo isn’t much bigger at 251 pounds. Herbig had elite production at Wisconsin with 20 sacks and 30 TFLs in his last two seasons. His motor, hands and explosiveness are great weapons in the pass rush.
Berry showed with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah that he’s not afraid to take players who have talent and then figures out his role later. That makes it easy to see him doing something similar with Herbig. Whether he gets big enough to put at defensive end or he is an off-ball linebacker who can put his hand in the ground in pass-rush situations, his athletic ability combined with production are worth the pick here.
Height, weight: 6-3, 305 pounds.
2022 stats: 49 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 3.5 TFLs.
The Browns added numerous names to their defensive tackle group, particularly Dalvin Tomlinson. But outside of him, they could use another 300-plus-pound DT.
Roy is a younger prospect with good size, and he knows how to use that size well. His best work comes against the run because he’s just so tough to move in one-on-one situations.
His production in terms of splash plays (sacks, tackles for loss) took a step back last season, and he will have to work to be a better pass rusher. But what you get in Roy right now is a good run stopper with athleticism and a high motor. He will also have time to improve as a pass rusher.
Height, weight: 6-1, 220 pounds.
2022 stats: 51 receptions, 861 yards (16.9 avg.), 5 TDs.
I know the Browns just added two receivers in this draft, but with the value of the receiver position going up and Amari Cooper getting to the wrong side of 30, you can’t invest too much in this position.
Mingo tested incredibly well at the NFL combine, earning a Relative Athletic Score of 9.97, although he did not do agility drills. He wasn’t very productive in college, however, which is why he could slide down into the fourth round.
His unique size-speed combo combined with the fact that he played more than a third of his snaps in the slot last season suggest that there is a lot of versatility and potential to his game. The Browns could afford to draft him and let him develop behind the scenes while using him sparingly. The fact that he played with Moore at Ole Miss for two seasons helps and could possibly give Mingo a pro mentor that he knows well.
Height, weight: 5-10.5, 231 pounds.
2022 stats: 136 tackles, 9 sacks, 20.5 TFLs, 2 forced fumbles, 4 passes defensed.
Pace has the production and profile to go much earlier than pick 126. His issue is one that he can’t fix in that he’s just 5-10.5. Other than that, there is a lot to like about him as a player.
He has been a tackling machine in his career, including in the last of his three seasons at Miami (Ohio), when he had 125 before transferring to Cincinnati for 2022. He only got better with the jump up in competition setting career highs for sacks and tackles for loss.
Not only is he good playing downhill, but he can hold his own in coverage provided there isn’t a massive height difference.
Size hasn’t been an issue for David Long, who is one of the better young linebackers in the NFL despite being 5-11. That’s not to say Pace will be as good as Long. But if a team is willing to overlook Pace’s height, they might have a good young linebacker on their hands.
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