As we move through the holiday season, there’s no better way to talk NFL Draft content than with an NFL Mock Draft. Today’s article will be a full 7 rounder with my favorite team, the Cleveland Browns, where I attack a multitude of needs for this team and get them on the right track.
The order of picks and pick number is based on NFL Mock Draft Database as of 12-24, and without further ado, let’s dive into round 1 to start:
Pick 1.06 – Cleveland Browns Select Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State University.
With the talent currently on the board (Mason Graham, Abdul Carter, Tet McMillan) the Browns opt to go for a young edge rusher to pair with Myles Garrett and Michael Hall Jr, and create havoc for AFC North Offensive lines moving forward. Abdul Carter is going to test through the roof at the combine, and could be in play for edge1 and the number one pick, so this is excellent value here.
Pick 2.36 – Cleveland Browns Select Jonah Savaiinaea, RT, University of Arizona.
With their second pick, the Browns opt to address the right side of the offensive line, and select a tackle talent who I’ve had as a round 1 guy for some time in Jonah Savaiinaea. He also has played some left tackle this season, but I think his future is on the right side, as he is much more talented there. This would allow Conklin to move to the Left side and protect the QBs blindside, or compete with Dawand for the starting LT job as well.
Pick 3.67 – Cleveland Browns select Xavier Restrepo, WR, University of Miami.
With Elijah Moore in the final year of his deal, the Browns will be looking for a new slot receiver to play alongside Tillman and Jeudy. Xavier Restrepo has been discussed as a first round talent in some circles, so to get him here would be excellent value, and give the Browns QB in 2025-2025 an excellent weapon, as well as provide added special teams value.
Pick 3.93 – Cleveland Browns select Kevin Winston Jr, S, Penn State
After taking a Penn State athlete on defense in round 1, the Browns double down on it in round 3 as well. With Thornhill likely on his way out at the end of the season, the Browns will need a safety to pair with Grant Delpit, and Winston is an athletic nightmare who is also one of the best tacklers in this entire class at the safety spot.
Pick 4.103 – Cleveland Browns select Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
The Browns have to be in the QB market this offseason, whether through the draft or through free agency as a bridge QB. In this mock, the Browns would add a bridge QB (Kirk Cousins is the most likely) on a 1 year deal while taking a rookie in the NFL Draft.
While this class isn’t the deepest for QB, Jaxson Dart does have a live arm who is a true gunslinger but can throw very well on the move and is a very good athlete. His pre and post snap reads will need some work, which is why he needs to start his career on the bench refining parts of his game, but this is a QB who could end up like an Andy Dalton level player (which is my comp for Jaxson).
Pick 5.166 – Cleveland Browns select Jack Nelson, OT, Wisconsin.
The Browns go back to the Wisconsin well when it comes to selecting a tackle and hope this time works just as well as the last. A 4 year starter at LT for Wisconsin, Jack is a very skilled player who can compete with Dawand and Conklin for snaps at LT in his rookie year, and this analyst wouldn’t be shocked to see him win the job outright.
Pick 6.180 – Cleveland Browns select Domani Jackson, CB, University of Alabama.
An elite athlete at the cornerback spot, Domani would be perfect in the Orange and brown. He would work well as a boundary cornerback or a slot cornerback, and with his speed, can also provide special teams value for this team as well. An excellent selection here in round 6.
Pick 6.197 – Cleveland Browns select Elijah Arroyo, TE, University of Miami.
Speaking of athletic nightmares here in round 6, the Browns need to add more depth to their tight end room. Selecting Elijah Arroyo here would be a great fit, as his excellent hands and football IQ, paired with his athleticism would be a nightmare for opposing defenses to cover in addition to asking them to cover David Njoku in two tight end sets as well.
Pick 6.205 – Cleveland Browns select Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers.
A productive, powerful running back from Rutgers, Kyle Monangai has been talked about much higher in the draft cycle. The biggest knock on him is his speed, which may not be the fastest on the field, but this is a guy who can run with power, anger, and has one of the best football IQs in this entire running back class, hands down.
Pick 6.214 & Pick 6.215 – Cleveland Browns select Jack Kiser, LB, Notre Dame & Jay Toia, DT, UCLA.
With their final two selections, the Browns go back to the defensive well once again, selecting a linebacker who’s versatile, a downhill thumper, and has some of the best play recognition skills in this LB group in Jack Kiser. They then select one of my favorite sleeper DT prospects in this class in Jay Toia from UCLA, who is a run stuffing brick wall at 6-3, 325 lbs and can play perfectly to Carter, Hall Jr, and Myles Garrett.
And there you have it folks! The quick recap of this mock:
Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
Jonah Savaiinaea, RT, University of Arizona
Xavier Restrepo, WR, University of Miami
Kevin Winston Jr, S, Penn State
Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
Jack Nelson, LT, Wisconsin
Domani Jackson, CB, University of Alabama
Elijah Arroyo, TE, University of Miami
Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers
Jack Kiser, LB, Notre Dame
Jay Toia, DT, UCLA
A lot of holes filled and the talent floor and ceiling of this team raised. Adding in a bridge qb for 2025, this team can easily be right back into the playoff discussion with the correct staff at the helm as well.
And there you have it folks, my 7 round Cleveland Browns mock draft! If you enjoyed this article, come give me a follow on “X” @sparkscouting, as well as check out the draft professor YouTube channel, where I host podcasts on the NFL Draft here!
