CLEVELAND, Ohio — On the count of three, everyone say the position you think the Browns most need to figure out.
No cheating.
1 … 2 … 3 …
You all said quarterback, right? By now, it’s the most obvious position of need with this roster. And whether you think they should draft someone high this year, put all their eggs into next year’s basket, or try and trade for Kirk Cousins — whatever your preferred method, we can all at least agree on that basic need.
My preference would still be for them to swing early here, and take their QB of choice with the No. 2 overall pick.
But we’re officially in draft month now, and there are certainly other needs this team has that go beyond QB.
The good news for the Browns is that it’s a deep draft class in the other three position groups I would say they need to focus on adding to.
In no particular order:
1. Tight end
About to enter year nine of his career, David Njoku isn’t getting any younger. And even more importantly, in recent years the Browns haven’t exactly gotten consistent production outside of him, whether he was paired with Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant or Jordan Akins.
But the good news for Cleveland? This is a deep tight end class, and the Browns should still have plenty of options well into the third round
One of my favorites remains Miami’s Elijah Arroyo. He has an ACL tear in his history (he played in just 11 combined games as a sophomore and junior), and in a deep class that is likely to drop him, but he’s a hard-nosed player who isn’t afraid to get physical.
At the combine in February, he even talked about how the favorite play of his college career was actually a game-saving tackle, one he made this last season by sprinting 82 yards after a Cam Ward interception, saving the ‘Canes from a pick-six.
“Just my effort, really just the dog mentality that I have,” Arroyo said when asked what that play showed about him. “I refuse to lose. I hate losing. That’s one thing about me. So, anything to prevent that, I will do.”
2. Running back
Much like tight end, it’s a deep running back class and a good year to need one. Combined with the fact that due to positional value, you can usually get a good running back late, and it should be a recipe of success for the Browns.
Nick Chubb’s future still hangs in the balance, but even if he comes back, the Browns will need another top option. Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are two of my favorite options — but I also have other guys I would prefer the Browns take higher and you will probably need to bite early to get either OSU guy at this point.
Trevor Etienne is another option I like who might be available later. He doesn’t have the same speed as his brother, Jacksonville’s Travis Etienne, but he has great vision and shiftiness to make the first defender miss. Trevor is also a good pass-catching option and can pick up yards after the catch and after contact, something the Browns really value.
3. Edge rusher
Yes, the Browns have locked up Myles Garrett with an extension, but in a deep class Cleveland should get in on the action here, even if it’s not taking Abdul Carter with the No. 2 pick.
In my last mock, I had them going with quarterback Shedeur Sanders with that first pick. In the second round at pick No. 33, I had the Browns selecting Nic Scourton out of Texas A&M. He’s first-round talent that could fall in a deep class, and the Browns would be in good position to scoop him up. He had four sacks in 2024, and eight in 2023.
But even if Scourton does go in the first round, there will be other options for the Browns to beef up their D-line, both on the edge and the interior.