5 players Cleveland Browns should draft in the first round

5 players Browns should draft in the first round

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 09: Denzel Mims #5 of the Baylor Bears bobbles a pass against Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson #1 of the TCU Horned Frogs and Trevon Moehrig #7 of the TCU Horned Frogs in the second half at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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LITTLE ROCK, AR – NOVEMBER 29: Nick Bolton #32 of the Missouri Tigers looks to the sidelines during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at War Memorial Stadium on November 29, 2019 in Little Rock, Arkansas The Tigers defeated the Razorbacks 24-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

4. Nick Bolton

B.J. Goodson is headed for free agency which leaves the Browns with a potential hole at middle linebacker. Bolton easily projects as a guy who can be an immediate starter in the middle for a team like Cleveland in 2021.

Bolton’s strength as a prospect is his willingness to play with real force on the inside. That aggressiveness gets him in trouble upon occasion, but it mostly grades out as a big positive for the former Missouri star.

The biggest thing Bolton can give the Browns next season is some serious toughness in the middle. He can do everything that’s required to help Cleveland stop opponents from running up the middle. He may struggle in coverage early in his career, but that shouldn’t stop someone from taking a shot on him in Round 1.

There’s no argument over whether or not Bolton can help upgrade Cleveland’s defense next season. He only falls to No. 4 on this list because there are other players who can move the needle more. He’d be a great consolation prize for the Browns at No. 26.

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