Mock Draft Watch: 247 Sports projects a fresh CB for the Browns

We here at Browns Wire try to keep our eyes open for any and all new mock drafts to evaluate and despite picking at number 26 we have seen the same names over and over, but Zack Pearson at 247 Sports provided us with a name we haven’t seen in Kelvin Joseph from Kentucky.

In this scenario Patrick Surtain II, Caleb Farley, Jaycee Horn & Greg Newsome II are already off the board, but Pearson found Joseph to be worth the selection at 26, with this explanation,

“The Browns need to improve in their secondary as they look to build on a successful 2020 season that included not only making the playoffs but beating Pittsburgh and almost stunning the Kansas City Chiefs. Cleveland looks to upgrade that secondary by going with Kelvin Joseph, a player who started his career at LSU before transferring to Kentucky.”

I have no issue selecting a corner to pair opposite Denzel Ward and Joseph lived up to the hype in his lone season starting for the Wildcats after sitting out the previous season due to transfer rules, but there may be options with lengthier resumes to consider.

Other CB Options:

Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech, 6-2, 207 pounds:

Although Farley is gone in this mock as he went number ten to Denver, there have been some mocks that have him falling to the twenties. It is highly unlikely that arguably the top corner in the class will fall to Cleveland, but if he would, it would be an incredible option to have. Few players were the game changer Farley was the last two seasons and he has the length and lockdown ability to be a top corner in the NFL.

Elijah Molden, Washington, 5-10, 191 pounds:

It is odd not seeing Molden’s name in this mock draft, because he is an elite corner who has played at an All-American level the past two seasons. Although most mocks project him in the early second, it would not be insane for Cleveland to pull the trigger on such a versatile defender.

With only four games to showcase his ability in COVID shortened 2020, Molden was still third on the team in tackles with 26, tied for first in interceptions with one and tied for second in pass deflections with one. He has the potential to play either corner or safety at the next level.

Later Round CB Options:

Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina, 6-4, 205 pounds:

Mukuamu and Horn formed one of the most dangerous cornerback tandems in the SEC and Mukuamu has the ideal length NFL teams look for in an outside corner. Despite declaring early after suffering a groin injury only five games into his junior season, Mukuamu has at least one season of dominant play as he was All-SEC as a sophomore in 2019. Even though his collegiate career was short, it was certainly productive with 86 tackles, four tackles for loss and seven interceptions.

List

Free agent safeties for the Browns to consider in the 2021 offseason