2024 NFL Mock Draft: Browns miss out on offensive difference maker that lands with Texans
Cleveland Browns gave up a ton for Deshaun Watson and it’s not a move they would take back at this time, though it could eventually be if he isn’t the long-term franchise quarterback. The Browns will not have their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft in what will be the last first-round pick that […]
Cleveland Browns gave up a ton for Deshaun Watson and it’s not a move they would take back at this time, though it could eventually be if he isn’t the long-term franchise quarterback.
The Browns will not have their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft in what will be the last first-round pick that they owe the Houston Texans.
What Houston does with those picks will always be tied to the Watson trade, they’ll have a chance to get another difference-maker in 2024. In a company-wide mock draft here at A to Z, we selected a player for each team. I made the Texans selection at No. 23, a pick that would have belonged to the Browns.
With that pick, I chose no other than WR Emeka Egbuka out of Ohio State for the Texans. It’s a pick that makes a ton of sense for the Texans but could for the Browns too.
"The Texans now have their franchise quarterback so it is time to continue building around him. Insert his former college teammate who recorded over 1,100 receiving yards with Stroud throwing to him in 2022. It’s a deep wide receiver class but Egbuka is no doubt a top-5 receiver in it. The talented wideout has dealt with injuries this season. Egbuka can win at all three levels and is a big threat after the catch, which hints at why he’s a viable returner too. Nico Collins is having a breakout year and Tank Dell is impressing as a rookie. Egbuka would give them another wideout that would make them an intriguing unit for the future."
Cleveland traded Donovan Peoples-Jones and only have Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore really giving them anything at the wideout position. In last year’s draft, Cleveland took Cedrick Tillman in the third round. To this point, Tillman has been a nonfactor but should have more opportunity down the stretch. DPJ wasn’t giving the Browns much but the trade signals that Cleveland does believe in their rookie.
Still, if the Browns inserted Egbuka it would be something that would have fans ecstatic. Egbuka broke out as a sophomore and has been very good as a junior when he’s been healthy.
Cleveland won’t care about what they gave up if Watson does pan out. To this point, it hasn’t been pretty, but he’s shown some promising moments at times this season. Nonetheless, Egbuka going from scarlet and gray to orange and brown would be fun.
Bold prediction for the Browns has them doing something they’ve done just once since 1994
Don’t be surprised when this happens.
