The Browns waited a long time to make their third pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
After Cleveland took Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. and Michigan offensive lineman Zak Zinter on Day 2, the Browns selected Louisville wide receiver Jamari Thrash with the No. 156 pick in the fifth round.
Thrash is a precise route runner who struggled with drops during his collegiate career. He had eight in 2023 and 16 total during his three years at Louisville. Thrash is a bit on the smaller side at a 6-foot, 188-pound frame and is already 23 years old. However, he finished with at least 60 receptions in each of the past two seasons — at Lousiville in 2023 and Georgia State in 2022. Thrash finished with 167 receptions for 2,610 yards and 18 touchdowns in 49 total college games.
Cleveland then waited another 50 picks before it picked again. The Browns took Mississippi State linebacker Browns draft with the No. 206 pick. He's a big-bodied linebacker at 6-foot-2 and 233 pounds. Watson was also quite the sack artist in college with 21 in the past three seasons. He also tallied 35 total tackles for a loss during his collegiate career.
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Browns Day 3 draft picks
- Louisville WR Jamari Thrash
- Mississippi State LB Nathaniel Watson
- South Dakota DB Myles Harden
- Cincinnati DT Jowon Briggs
Browns draft grade for WR Jamari Thrash
The Browns might have the strangest wide receiver room in the NFL. There are three clear-cut starters in Jerry Jeudy, Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore, but only Jeudy is under contract through the 2025 season. Cedric Tillman is an intriguing prospect as a fourth wideout, but the drafting of Thrash makes Tillman a bit more of a question mark heading into 2024.
Thrash and Tillman are different players, so perhaps Thrash is more of an insurance play if Moore doesn't stick around after 2024. Either way, the move rounds out the Browns wide receiver room and gives Kevin Stefanski another weapon for quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Grade: B-
Browns draft grade for LB Nathaniel Watson
Watson could be a highly successful box linebacker, but that's about it. He was widely productive at the line of scrimmage with 35 career tackles for a loss and 21 sacks, but lacks size and coverage skills. Watson is great against the run as well as inside the tackles.
The Browns didn't need a linebacker after they added Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush, so Watson figures to be a situational player with adept pass-rushing skills. He's a quality tackler with a lot of downhill bruising ability. The idea for Cleveland is to coach him up in coverage if they want him to turn into an every-down player.
Grade: A-
Browns 2024 NFL Draft picks: Every selection made by the Cleveland
Browns draft grade for DB Myles Harden
No shame in adding more DBs. Harden is an athletic tackler who provided solid coverage as well for South Dakota. He finished this past season with six pass breakups, one interception and 58 tackles in 13 starts.
Harden is a depth piece for the Browns secondary who will likely begin on special teams.
Grade: B+
Cincinnati DT Jowon Briggs
Seventh-round picks are always hard to grade because you never know if they're going to make it to the Week 1 roster. Defensive tackle Briggs is a space-eater in the trenches at 6-foot-1 and 313 pounds and can certainly learn behind the Browns' stable of interior defenders.
He won't supersede second-round pick Michael Hall Jr., but Briggs was a multi-year starter who has a lot of experience playing on the line. If he doesn't make the 53-man roster, Briggs should see time on the practice squad
Grade: C
