Cleveland Browns 7-Round NFL Mock Draft: March

A 3-14 mark for the Cleveland Browns last fall forced many fans to think about April way back in the early portions of last fall. Luckily for you, Cleveland faithful, we are less than a few days away from April Fool's Day, and more importantly, less than a month away from the start of the NFL Draft.

While the roster has talent on both sides of the ball, depth charts don’t win games, and the Browns’ lack of execution in all three phases has gotten them to this point. Here is an early look at where GM Andrew Berry could go come springtime to help boost the roster back to relevancy inside the loaded AFC North.

Round 1 (No. 2 overall): Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

Arguably the top player in the class, you don’t avoid drafting Abdul Carter because you have Myles Garrett. Having both is a luxury not many teams in football would have, and his impact would be felt immediately along Cleveland’s defensive front. QB is, of course, a need, but I’ll get to that in just a second.

Round 2 (No. 33 overall): Shedeur Sanders, QB Colorado

Do I think Shedeur Sanders gets here on draft night? No, but this is a personal mock where my evaluations come into play, and currently, I have a second-round grade on the Colorado QB. In this spot, he becomes the face of the franchise, and the Browns leave the first two rounds with two players that project as contributors for the next 5-7 years.

Round 3 (No. 67 overall): Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee

One of the premier backs in the class, Dylan Sampson comes in to compete with Jerome Ford right away, eventually taking over the starting role by mid-season. A well-built ball-carrier, Sampson rushed for 1,488 yards in 2024 with 22 trips to paydirt. It’s a loaded class for RB talent, and Sampson remains up there with the elites of the group. 

Round 3 (No. 94 overall): Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State

Separation translates, and Kyle Williams is a player whose ability to get off the line of scrimmage against varying body types is all over his tape. He’s got experience as a WR1 if asked to take pressure off of Jerry Jeudy, and his skill set as the second man in a progression is extremely intriguing. He’s a fun young player to watch with 3,606 career receiving yards under his belt at the college ranks.

Round 4 (No. 104 overall): Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green

An intriguing flex weapon who leaves Bowling Green as one of their all-time greats, Harold Fannin Jr. and David Njoku project as an alignment versatile tandem that can dominate the intermediate areas and boost the ground game. While the pre-draft process has seen his stock slip a bit, Fannin Jr. is still a modern-day flex weapon that will expand a playbook early in his career.

Round 6 (No. 179 overall): Teddye Buchanan, LB, UCLA

Get to know the name Teddye Buchanan, as he could go higher on draft night. An extremely explosive athlete, Buchanan is a violent downhill defender with the twitch and re-direct ability to challenge for a heavy amount of snaps early in his career. He jumped 40 inches in the vert at the combine, showcasing the type of explosion coiled up in his lower half.

Round 6 (No. 192 overall): Hollin Pierce, OT, Rutgers

A massive man that moves like one of a much smaller stature, Hollin Pierce remains one of the more intriguing day-three tackles in the class. If everything clicks, a team could get a long-term starter from a guy who lasts until the latter portions of the draft. Cleveland found a starter in the small townhome that is Dawand Jones. Why not take a flyer on another player with similar traits? 

Round 6 (No. 200 overall): Fentrell Cypress II, CB, Florida State

I like to use these late selections to introduce players to the audience who are currently unknown to the public eye. Fentrell Cypress II, a former UVA transfer, touts an outstanding athletic profile with a few of the traits teams look for in a versatile secondary presence. 

Round 6 (No. 216 overall): Junior Tafuna, iDL, Utah

Another prospect to get familiar with, Junior Tafuna was outstanding all week long at the Senior Bowl and is an interior presence that could surprise some folks when things are all set and done. No, he won’t be a starter right away, but drafting Tafuna to be a rotational piece early as a player that has legit push on passing downs is a path I like. 

Round 7 (No. 255 overall): Brandon George, LB, Pittsburgh

One of the most gifted athletes in the class, Brandon George may make a 53-man roster simply due to his size, strength, and explosion. His tape isn’t perfect, and he projects immediately as a core four special teamer, but this is the exact type of athletic profile you take a chance on late on day three.