5 players Browns should draft in the first round

The Browns need to get Baker Mayfield’s career back on track. That means Cleveland should look to help their quarterback in Round 1 of this year’s draft. 

Baker Mayfield was supposed to lead the Browns to a playoff berth last season, but instead, his struggles doomed his team to mediocrity. Cleveland isn’t pulling the plug on Mayfield as their franchise quarterback just yet, but it is a make-or-break season for the enigmatic signal-caller.

The good news for Mayfield is that his franchise seems invested in surrounding him with the talent required to succeed. Specifically, that means he should get better receivers to work with moving forward. Round 1 of April’s draft seems like an ideal time to add a top-flight pass catcher.

The defense could also use some attention over the long haul. Nabbing a sack artist with the No. 13 overall selection could be appealing to decision-makers in Northeast Ohio. The unit could also benefit from an upgrade on the interior of the defensive line. The combination of Malik Jackson and Malik McDowell didn’t exactly dominate the line of scrimmage last year.

The Browns need an infusion of talent in Round 1 and their fans should keep a close eye on the following five prospects.

5. Nakobe Dean

Admittedly, linebacker isn’t an area of intense need for the Browns, but Dean’s ability to be a defensive difference-maker might make him worth the pick at 13. He’s just the sort of playmaker that can make everything else fall in place for a modern NFL defense.

Drafting Dean won’t be Cleveland’s plan heading into the draft but if the board breaks poorly ahead of them he can represent a nice consolation prize. The former Georgia star can’t help Mayfield light up the scoreboard but he can help the Browns’ defense force the kind of turnovers that can give their offensive counterparts short fields to work with.