With no glaring needs, Browns would be wise to take a guard at 54 | Jeff Schudel
Apr. 14—Andrew Berry took care of the Browns' biggest need last month when he traded a fifth-round pick and a sixth-round pick to the Broncos for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. He fortified linebacker by adding Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush, added running back D'Onta Foreman and signed Jameis Winston to play behind Deshaun Watson.
The Browns' fifth-year general manager made sure to re-sign key players such as defensive end Za'Darius Smith, defensive tackles Maurice Hurst plus Shelby Harris and punter Corey Bojorquez. He added defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson and bolstered the return game by signing running back Nyheim Hines.
The Browns have no glaring needs heading into the draft later this month, so they can choose the versatile "best player available" with the 54th overall pick on April 26 — their first pick in the draft because their first-rounder was dealt to the Texans in the Watson trade. It would be with an eye to the future — something Berry is always considering — if that player turned out to be an offensive guard, even though they signed veteran Hakeem Adeniji in free agency. Adeniji is on a one-year contract, so obviously he was not signed to be a future starter.
Christian Haynes, a 6-foot-3, 317-pound guard from Connecticut, could still be on the board at 54. He wouldn't have to start as a rookie, but left guard Joel Bitonio won't play forever. Bitonio will be in his 11th season in 2024. Right guard Wyatt Teller will be a free agent after 2025 without a new contract.
"Four-year starter and team captain who is sturdy at the point of attack," Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote in his scouting report on Haynes. "Haynes plays with football intelligence and sees every snap as a mandate to move opponents and finish blocks. His draft slotting could be affected by a lack of length and being limited to one position ... Pass sets with good posture and stays square to the action...Might not have enough length to redirect speedy gap attacks in pass pro ... All things considered, he might outplay his draft slotting and become a solid NFL starter."
Mason McCormick of South Dakota State, 6-foot-4, 309 pounds, is another guard projected to go somewhere in the 50-60 range. As with Haynes, McCormick will need some polishing before he is NFL ready. Dawand Jones wasn't NFL ready when the Browns drafted him last year, either, but former Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan turned him into a starting right tackle.
"McCormick plays with tightness in both his upper and lower half that shows itself when he's forced to make athletic plays," Zierlein wrote in his scouting report. "He can be forceful into first contact but doesn't display the flexion needed to redirect his weight quickly or play with leverage at the point of attack. His clear-eyed pass protection will attract offensive line coaches and his NFL Scouting Combine testing should have coaches believing there is still much more to bring out of him as a player."
Andy Dickerson has replaced Callahan as the Browns' offensive line coach. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has described Dickerson as an excellent teacher. Berry should find Dickerson a student for the interior of the line in the upcoming draft.
