The Browns owned the 13th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft after a disappointing season in which they failed to live up to high expectations. It was expected that they would attempt to add help at receiver after struggling to field effective players at that position in 2021.
Cleveland went another route in late March, however. The team instead made a trade that left it without a first-round pick until 2025. The Browns are now one of eight teams without a first-round draft pick in 2022, along with the Bears, Broncos, Colts, Dolphins, 49ers, Raiders and Rams.
The Browns don't seem to mind that they gave up their first-round pick this year, among other assets. That's because they have landed a quarterback who has the potential to be one of the best in franchise history.
Cleveland's move was certainly a risk, but if it works out, it will fix what has been a decades-long problem for the team.
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Why don't the Browns have a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft?
The Browns don't have a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft as a result of their trade to acquire Deshaun Watson from the Texans. In fact, they won't have a first-round pick until 2025 because of that transaction.
Cleveland sent six draft picks to Houston in exchange for Watson and a Day 3 pick in 2024. Below are the trade details.
Browns receive:
- QB Deshaun Watson
- 2024 sixth-round pick
Texans receive:
- 2022 first-round pick (13th overall)
- 2022 fourth-round pick
- 2023 first-round pick
- 2024 first-round pick
- 2023 third-round pick
- 2024 fourth-round pick
The Browns took a calculated risk. Watson, 26, led the NFL in passing yards when he last played in 2020, throwing for 4,823 yards to with 33 touchdowns, seven interceptions and 70.2 completion percentage. Those numbers are better than those of Baker Mayfield, who had a 60.5 completion percentage, 3,010 yards, 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2021.
But Watson also comes with significant off-the-field baggage stemming from 22 civil and nine criminal complaints of sexual assault and misconduct. A Houston-area grand jury elected not to indict him on the criminal complaints but he is still in litigation in the civil cases.
Who is picking in the Browns' position?
The Texans currently own the 13th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. They made a trade with the Browns to acquire that selection.
TRADE GRADES: Why the Browns won the Deshaun Watson trade
Are the Browns competitive without this pick?
The answer to that question should be yes. Watson is an upgrade at quarterback and should give the Browns a higher ceiling than Mayfield did, even if Mayfield's subpar 2021 season can be explained by the multiple injuries he suffered.
There are, however, questions about whether Watson will be suspended for his off-field issues. If he is, then that will hurt the Browns' chances of competing in 2022. Jacoby Brissett would have to start in his place — unless Cleveland can somehow keep Mayfield and convince him to serve as Watson's backup.
Given the strength of the AFC, the Browns may not find a lot of success if Watson has to sit. He also may need time to shake off the rust after sitting out the entire 2021 season. Long term, Watson will give the Browns their best quarterback since the days of Bernie Kosar. That puts them in position to be contenders in the coming years, starting in either 2022 or 2023.
Browns' 2022 NFL Draft picks
The Browns don't have a first-round pick or a fifth-round pick, but they still have seven picks in this year's draft. They own a sixth-round pick from the Cowboys as part of the Amari Cooper trade and also have an extra seventh-round pick they acquired from the Lions.
Cleveland also has two third-round picks; they were awarded the 99th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft as a result of Resolution JC-2A. Under this rule enacted in 2020, teams receive third-round picks for developing minority candidates who are hired to fill head coaching and general manager positions.
The Browns will receive a third-round pick in 2022 because former vice president of football operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was hired to be the Vikings' GM in the offseason.
| Round | Pick (Overall) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 44 |
| 3 | 78 |
| 3 | 99 (2020 Resolution JC-2A) |
| 4 | 118 |
| 6 | 202 (from DAL) |
| 7 | 223 (from DET) |
| 7 | 246 |
MORE: How NFL teams value draft picks in potential trades
Browns' 2022 NFL Draft needs
The Browns believe they have solved the quarterback problem that has plagued them for nearly three decades with the Watson trade. But Cleveland still needs to fill holes in its roster before it can be a contender in the AFC.
Wide receiver
This is the Browns' biggest problem spot. The Odell Beckham Jr.-Jarvis Landry pairing didn't work out as the team hoped, and now both are gone. Cleveland has traded for Amari Cooper and signed Jakeem Grant this offseason, but it still needs a true No. 2 receiver to pair with Cooper.
The 2022 NFL Draft has a lot of talent at receiver, and the Browns were expected to take one — perhaps Chris Olave, Drake London or Treylon Burks — with the 13th pick. Now, they'll likely focus on the position in the second round. Players like George Pickens, Jahan Dotson, Alec Pierce and Skyy Moore should pique their interest at 44 if they're available.
Defensive end
Myles Garrett is the only returning defensive end who played more than six snaps for the Browns last season. The team hasn't re-signed Jadeveon Clowney or Takkarist McKinley, and unless they do so before the draft, they will need to add a starter across from Garrett as well as depth to join Chase Winovich and Curtis Weaver.
Nik Bonitto and Arnold Ebeketie could draw interest from the Browns with their first selection. They could have an interest in Myjai Sanders or Sam Williams with one of their third-round picks.
Defensive tackle
End isn't the only position on the defensive line where the Browns lost talent. They also lost their two top tackles in terms of snaps played: Malik Jackson and Malik McDowell. Cleveland needs to replenish its depth at the position even if it believes that 2020 third-round pick Jordan Elliott and 2021 fourth-round pick Tommy Togiai are ready for bigger roles.
Perrion Winfrey, Travis Jones and Haskell Garrett are all names for Browns fans to monitor during the second day of the NFL Draft.
Tight end
Cleveland franchise-tagged David Njoku and has Harrison Bryant on the roster, so it isn't desperate for a tight end. That said, coach Kevin Stefanski uses two-tight-end sets a lot, so the team will probably look to add a third option ahead of Miller Forristall and Nick Guggemos.
The 2022 NFL Draft is deep at tight end; the Browns could select a player like Isaiah Likely or Trey McBride in the second round. They could also look at players like Jeremy Ruckert and Jalen Wydermeyer in Rounds 3 and 4.
Kicker
Chase McLaughlin had the second-lowest field goal percentage in 2021 out of 34 qualified kickers. His 71.4 percent mark was ahead of only Matt Ammendola, who made 68.4 percent of his field goal kicks with the Jets.
The unfortunately named Chris Blewitt is around to compete with McLaughlin, but Blewitt made just two of five field-goal attempts in Washington last season. Cleveland could look to bring in legitimate competition for McLaughlin. If it decides to that, it could consider drafting LSU's Cade York or Wake Forest's Nick Sciba in the hope of finding the next Evan McPherson.
Check out the Sporting News 2022 NFL Mock Draft, brought to you by SN's lead NFL Writer Vinnie Iyer.
