So the regular season of college football is officially completed and now it’s on to the conference championship weekend and then bowl season. NFL teams have been able to take a look at many of these prospects as they continue evaluating their on-field work before getting to know them through the pre-draft process which is coming up quicker than we think.
With the Cleveland Browns losing this week, thinking a little bit about the NFL Draft makes sense.
For this week’s mock, we’re taking a different approach as I’ve added the element of a trade-back scenario into the picture which I’ll probably do throughout the mocks once the order is official after the Super Bowl. In this scenario, the Browns traded back with the Chicago Bears and added a 2025 fourth-round pick.
If you missed last week’s mock, you can find it right here.
Round 3
Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington: The junior tackle has been rock solid for the Huskies during his four seasons in the Pacific Northwest, and with the Browns potentially searching for their long-term left tackle this offseason, they could find him in Fautanu. He’s only allowed three sacks and 36 total pressures and has also been above average as a run blocker throughout his career but has slipped this season. 2023 Stats: 87.4 pass-blocking grade, 59.2 run-blocking grade. 16 pressures allowed, two sacks allowed. Next Game: Friday, December 1 vs. Oregon at 8:00 p.m. on ABC (Pac-12 Championship)
Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson: The Browns will need to continue filling the defensive tackle room with talent, and getting Tyler Davis on Day 2 of the draft would help create more depth. He’s older and a fifth-year senior so it will be curious to see if the front office would jump on the opportunity if he’s on the board. Davis has been disruptive as a pass rusher with 118 career pressures and his run defense improved to an elite level in his final season for the Tigers.
2023 Stats: 31 tackles (11 solo, 3.5 for a loss), 0.5 sacks.Next Game: TBA
Round 5
Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma: Stutsman has been a monster in the Oklahoma defense the last two seasons racking up tackles, creating pressure and even dropping back into coverage. The Browns’ linebacker room could be undergoing some changes in the offseason with uncertainty surrounding Anthony Walker, Sione Takitaki, and even Jeremiah Owusu-Kormoah who will enter 2024 in a contract year.
2023 Stats: 99 total tackles (47 solo, 16 for a loss), three sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception. Next Game: TBA
Round 6
Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina: Walker started off his 2023 season waiting for the NCAA to make a decision on his eligibility. Once he finally got on the field, he showed that his two seasons at Kent State weren’t a fluke scoring seven touchdowns in seven games while racking up 656 yards on 35 catches. If he tests strong at the combine, there’s probably a good chance he won’t make it to Round 6 but in this scenario, he returns to Northeast Ohio.
2023 Stats: 35 receptions for 656 yards and seven touchdownsNext Game: TBA
Round 7
Layden Robinson, G, Texas A&M: Robinson is a curious study because if you look at his 2021 tape, he was looking like he was going to be a solid offensive lineman but then in 2022 and 2023 he has fallen off which is why he’s a projected Day 3 pick currently. He has stayed steady as an above-average run blocker but his pass blocking hasn’t been as strong. Landing in Cleveland and receiving guidance from Bill Calahan could potentially help him find an NFL future.
2023 Stats: 62.0 pass-blocking grade, 69.4 run-blocking grade, 16 pressures allowed, one sack allowed.Next Game: TBA
Lathan Ransom, S, Ohio State: The senior safety’s presence was definitely a loss for the Buckeyes’ defense down the stretch especially on Saturday against Michigan after Ransom suffered a lower-body injury against Wisconsin. Ransom has been solid as a tackler and in coverage throughout his Ohio State career but with now two potentially serious lower body injuries in less than two years, it does bring his long-term health into question.
2023 Stats: 34 total tackles (21 solo), one interception, one forced fumble. Next Game: TBA
Zy Alexander, CB, LSU: The Browns have added a cornerback to their room in each offseason of Andrew Berry’s regime whether it’s in the draft or as an undrafted free agent so let’s continue that trend. Alexander was great in his three seasons at Southeastern Louisiana before transferring to LSU last offseason but he struggled in the 2023 season with performance as well as injuries which have sidelined him since Week 8 against Army. He fits the model of the tall, athletic, physical cornerback much like Martin Emerson so he’d be worth the risk of a seventh-round pick.
2023 Stats: 44 total tackles (30 solo), two interceptions.Next Game: TBA
For this draft scenario, we used the NFL Mock Draft Database’s simulator.
