2022 NFL Draft: Offensive line dominates top five in 2022 NFL Mock Draft

13. Cleveland Browns: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

I know there’s a big argument for the Cleveland Browns to take a wide receiver here, but I don’t see it as a first round need for a few reasons. First, this is a deep wide receiver class so the Browns can find one later on. Second, Cleveland is a run first offense so a first round talent at wide receiver isn’t as big of a need. Third, the Browns still have Jarvis Landry as of now along with Donovan Peoples-Jones and Anthony Schwartz. That’s enough to get by with this offensive scheme.

Now, the reasoning for taking Nakobe Dean in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Last year, the Browns had Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah fall to them in the second round. JOK went off as a rookie and was a star in this defensive scheme. Dean would not only duplicate that, but could be a better form of it on the other side of the field.

Malcolm Smith and Anthony Walker Jr. will be free agents, leaving potentially two starting linebacker spots up for grabs in Cleveland. Dean can immediately step into either spot.

The leader of the Georgia defense, Dean played in 36 games at Georgia and not only made plays all over the field, but did it consistently from not only game-to-game, but year-to-year. Dean had 71 tackles in 2020 and 72 in 2021, showing that consistency.

Dean also added another level to his game in 2021. He went from 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 2020 to 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks in 2021. He’s only going to get better and would be a dangerous weapon for the Cleveland defense.