Reviewing the 2023 NFL draft haul for the Browns

While the Cleveland Browns traded out of their seventh round pick, racking up a sixth round pick next year, they did make seven selections in the 2023 NFL draft. And while they did not come on the clock until the third round of the 2023 NFL draft, the Browns plucked great value off the board when they came on the clock. Did you miss draft weekend? If so, no worries! Here we will review the Browns’ draft from Cedric Tillman to Luke Wypler.

We have you covered here as we review each selection the Browns made and compare where they were selected to my big board as well as the industry consensus big board created by Pro Football Network’s Arif Hasan.

Round 3, pick no. 74: WR Cedric Tillman, Tennessee

My big board: WR8, 71st overall

Industry consensus big board: WR7, 62nd overall

It was not a surprise to see the Browns use their first selection on a wide receiver. They were in the bottom quarter of the league in explosive plays through the air, so an overhaul of that room was necessary. First, they added Elijah Moore and Marquise Goodwin, and now they add Cedric Tillman.

And looking at where Tillman fell on both my board and the industry consensus board, the value is just right for where the Tennessee product was selected. He was even the 11th wide receiver off the board, so the Browns might have found the best value at the position through the first three rounds.

Round 3, Pick no. 98: DT Siaki Ika, Baylor

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

My big board: DT10, 126th overall

Industry consensus big board: DT6, 73rd overall

This is a pick that feels very much like one that was given to defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. The face of Schwartz lit up at the selection as he is excited about bringing the Baylor big man Siaki Ika to the Browns. And it will be a pick that I will trust Schwartz on for now.

I am much lower on Ika than many, falling 53 spots lower than the industry consensus big board. His 2023 tape did not show much pass rush upside, but that could have been due to his role. Schwartz has already told him he is now a Ferrari instead of a dump truck as the Browns will not ask him to two-gap the way Baylor did, but instead have opportunities to make plays face-up.

Round 4, Pick no. 111: OT Dawand Jones, Ohio State

My big board: OT6, 39th overall

Industry consensus big board: OT6, 40th overall

I and the industry consensus board align almost perfectly on Ohio State offensive tackle Dawand Jones. He is a second round talent that fell to the fourth round. And there are reasons why he fell two rounds further than he should have as well as teams have concerns about his work ethic, weight, and desire for the sport.

However, teams tend to relax on those issues when they get into Day 3 as the dead money to cut a player is negligible. This has happened with the Browns with the likes of Antonio Callaway and Perrion Winfrey. The Browns have three tackles all with two years left on their deals (assuming they pick up the fifth-year option of Jedrick Wills).

Jones looks like the future starter at right tackle in either 2024 or 2025 after the team moves on from Jack Conklin.

Round 4, Pick no. 126: EDGE Isaiah McGuire, Missouri

Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports

My big board: EDGE16, 82nd overall

Industry consensus big board: EDGE14, 103rd overall

Again, this is a pick where the Browns found ideal value in the 2023 NFL draft. Falling 23 picks below consensus, Cleveland addressed their most shallow position by selecting Isaiah McGuire with pick no. 126 this weekend. I said before the draft started that McGuire was the one player I would bet on to land with the Browns, and that came true.

McGuire will immediately come in and land a rotational role as the third or fourth defensive end with second-year player Alex Wright.

Round 5, Pick no. 140: QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA

Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports

My big board: N/A

Industry consensus big board: QB8, 167th overall

Dorian Thompson-Robinson was a player that I was not able to get around to as I hit 171 players and only seven quarterbacks. However, based on consensus, the Browns overdrafted the UCLA quarterback by about 27 picks. This may have been necessary, however, as nine quarterbacks came off the board before him. This includes a run on the position at the end of the fourth round and into the beginning of the fifth round.

The least favorite pick of the weekend, the Browns selected a backup quarterback of the future after giving Josh Dobbs as their backup this season. However, there is an appeal to having a cost-controlled backup quarterback on the roster for the next four seasons (three seasons beyond 2023).

Round 5, Pick no. 142: CB Cameron Mitchell, Northwestern

Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch

My big board: CB17, 105th overall

Industry consensus big board: CB19, 163rd overall

Based on consensus, the value of Mitchell was about right and maybe a bit early. However, I was higher on Mitchell than most. Drafted as an early special teamer as he played nearly 400 snaps on special teams during his time at Northwestern, the best friend of Greg Newsome II has the tackling data to assume he may take over the role of nickel cornerback in the future as well.

Once you get into Day 3, especially beyond the fourth round, the value becomes non-existent as every team’s board looks vastly different. The Browns, however, will continue to take depth pieces in their secondary year in and year out.

Round 6, Pick no. 190: C Luke Wypler, Ohio State

Mandatory Credit: Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch

My big board: IOL6, 78th overall

Industry consensus big board: IOL5, 70th overall

By all accounts, Wypler could turn into the steal of the draft. He was valued as a third round pick across the board and he fell three rounds later than that and 120 picks further than his consensus rank.

As the Browns saw two depth pieces at the position suffer season-ending injuries a year ago, and with neither being a lock to make the roster, Wypler could find himself as the backup center immediately. Starting center Ethan Pocic even has safeguard written into his contract where the Browns could even move off of him after 2023 if his play returns to where it was before he joined the team a year ago.

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Story originally appeared on Browns Wire