Cleveland Browns: 2022 NFL Mock Draft after DeShaun Watson Trade

After bolstering the interior of the defensive line, it is also imperative that the Cleveland Browns bring in another quality edge rusher that could potentially play on the other side of Myles Garrett for years to come.

Already this offseason, the Cleveland Browns traded off-ball linebacker, Mack Wilson, to the New England Patriots for edge-rushing backer, Chase Winovich. However, that won’t nearly be enough to fill the shoes of Jadeveon Clowney, who played very well last season, if he decides to move on in free agency.

Josh Paschal from Kentucky actually reminds me a lot of Clowney with the way he plays. He can play any spot up and down the defensive line and is one of the best edge run defenders in the country. He may have the twitchy, athletic upside as an edge pass rusher that many look for, but Paschal finds a way to impact the game down after down.

There is still a chance that the Cleveland Browns are able to bring back Clowney or add another veteran defensive end, but either way, Josh Paschal is the type of player that come in and play early and often across the defensive line at the next level.

So far this offseason, the Cleveland Browns have released tight end, Austin Hooper, to save some cap space. The team also placed the franchise tag on former first-round pick, David Njoku. The only tight end that they have locked up past this season is 2020 fourth-round pick, Harrison Bryant.

In Kevin Stefanski’s offense, having multiple impactful tight ends is incredibly important. I’m sure the team would love to sign Njoku to an extension, but if they don’t, bringing in a player like Jeremy Ruckert would be a very good idea.

Even if they are able to keep Njoku and Bryant long-term, the Cleveland Browns run enough three tight end sets to warrant this selection. Ruckert has shown at Ohio State that he can do whatever is asked of him. Playing with a ton of talented wide receivers, Ruckert was rather low on the target totem pole in college, so we should able to slide right into a supporting role right away at the next level.

You can line Ruckert up wherever you need him on the field. He is very effective as a receiver split out in the slot or even at the boundary, very versatile when lined up at the end of the line and is even a very effective blocker on the move when lined up in the backfield.

Kevin Stefanski would certainly be able to find a role for Jeremy Ruckert right away, and that role could grow in the coming years depending on how the roster shakes out. At this spot in the 2022 NFL Draft, Ruckert provides great value at a position that is super important in the Browns current offensive scheme.