2022 NFL Draft: Grading Every Team’s 2022 NFL Draft Haul
By Hunter Haas
Browns (9 picks):
3:04 – Martin Emerson, CB, Mississippi State
3:14 – Alex Wright, DL, UAB
3:35 – David Bell, WR, Purdue
4:03 – Perrion Winfrey, DL, Oklahoma
4:19 – Cade York, Kicker, LSU
5:13 – Jerome Ford, RB, Cincinnati
6:24 – Michael Woods II, WR, Oklahoma
7:02 – Isaiah Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
7:25 – Dawson Deaton, Center, Texas Tech
The Browns traded the bulk of their future early round draft picks to Houston in exchange for quarterback Deshaun Watson. This resulted in the franchise not landing on the clock until round two, where they then traded down even farther.
After all this, their first three selections ended up being in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. I am not high on Martin Emerson or David Bell as anything more than average players in the NFL, but Alex Wright and Perrion Winfrey intrigue me. Wright is listed by many as an edge rusher but due to his length and play strength, I see him as a versatile piece on the defensive line, capable of lining up inside as well as outside.
To think that Wright can fill the void left behind by Jadaveon Clowney is not out of the question. Winfrey is more of a traditional interior defensive lineman, and will be able to consistently cause pressure from the inside while being in the same front seven as Myles Garrett.
Picking a kicker is always weird to me, but if there was ever one to pick, it’s Gabe York. It is hard to blame the team too much for that pick though, as they dealt with constant trouble at the position last season. Without much upside as a class, it ranks closer to the bottom than the top, but has some potential.
Grade: C-