Cleveland Browns 2021 mock draft: Taking the next step to contend
![Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) rushes back to the locker room after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns Extras 10](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F1f49c319703aaeb291ac93c95e002f9c85106cc43476452f18c8d8b24c8f12a1.jpg "Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) rushes back to the locker room after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns Extras 10")
Cleveland Browns 2021 mock draft: 4th round
You can never have too many pass rushers. Although this mock draft has already been heavily dominated by the defensive side of the ball, the Browns wouldn’t be able to pass up on a value like Rashad Weaver here in the fourth round.
Weaver missed the 2019 season due to injury but he showed his productivity didn’t drop off in 2020 with a nice bounce-back year, racking up 14 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles.
Having depth off the edge is huge, and having players with positional versatility is so valuable as well. Weaver has the size of a base 4-3 defensive end but he could float between playing on his feet and with his hand in the dirt.
The first and only offensive pick of this mock draft, “Tutu” Atwell brings a dynamic that is presently missing from the Cleveland Browns’ offense — long speed.
Atwell’s size may keep him to day three on most draft boards, but there was some discussion about him as an early day two pick at different points in the 2020 offseason.
He averaged over 18 yards per reception in 2019 and had 19 touchdowns in his last 22 games overall.
In addition to Odell Beckham Jr. coming back healthy next year, bringing in a player like Atwell would give the Browns a plethora of options for personnel groupings moving forward.