Cleveland Browns Are Linked To A Great Ohio State Player That Can Help Spark The Team

It’s been a sad season for the Cleveland Browns, but they look like a team that could select at the top of the NFL Draft this April.

Cleveland hasn’t picked in the first round since 2021, since they traded their last three first-rounders for quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has done nothing but hurt the team.

While many want to move off of Watson this offseason and draft a rookie quarterback, there is a chance they will still roll with the 29-year-old for at least one more season and use their picks on the best available players.

Even though the draft is over six months away, a new NFL Mock draft this week had the Browns taking a familiar face for many Cleveland fans.

Cleveland Browns Land An Ohio State Buckeye

Fox’s Sports Rob Rang put out a mock draft this week, with the Cleveland Browns selecting third overall and picking Ohio State’s defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau.

Rang is high on Tuimoloau and had great things to say about the Buckeyes pass rusher.

Clearly, the Browns were expecting more with the acquisition of Deshaun Watson, but the club is essentially trapped by his massive contract, making a switch at the position unlikely. A boost to the offensive line would also be nice, but I don’t see a blocker worthy of this pick. Instead, the Browns may shift their attention to the Buckeyes. With “just” 14 sacks over his first three years at the college level, Tuimoloau has not produced the eye-popping production some expected, but don’t let the stats fool you. The power-packed 6-foot-5, 279-pounder turned down a chance at a first-round selection to return to Ohio State for a possible title run. I anticipate he will play his way into a top-10 selection next spring.

The Browns need to find another pass rusher to pair with Myles Garrett, and Tuimoloau could be a great addition to the team. Still, he has underachieved at Ohio State the last four years, so there is a chance he will slide down draft boards this spring and could be an option for the Browns in the second round.