April 30, 2024 • 21 mins
Browns staff writer Kelsey Russo joins the Best Podcast Available to recap the 2024 NFL Draft and analyze the new Browns rookie class!
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
We welcome you into the Cross Country Mortgage Campus here
in Berea. This is the best podcast available and the
twenty twenty four NFL Draft is officially in the books,
with maybe the longest day three that I have done
in twelve years. Joined by staff writer Kelsey Russo, who
(00:29):
I think has experienced her first and if she comes
back next year after this day, she deserves a medal
for this. Uno had his head on his desk. He
was sleeping during the end of the draft. I don't
know what was going on. But the draft is over
and it's time for us to break it down here
(00:49):
on the best podcast available. Kelsey, let's get down to it.
Are you surprised that this team made all six picks?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
When I was thinking about this, at first, my initial
thought was yes. But then when I kind of honestly
like took a second to think yes and no. When
I went back and kind of looked at Aby's history
of drafting, you know, the he's trade the last two
second rounders that we that they had the last two years,
the seventh rounders I wasn't expecting us to take. But
(01:18):
then when looking at the twenty twenty five picks with
the multiple sixth round picks. It kind of made sense
that we stayed. They stayed where they were at because
of what is to come and you know, being able
to move around. You know, maybe what I was thinking
was that they would have like packaged some of those
and moved up in the draft or different spots. But
(01:39):
in the end, it kind of does make sense, just
kind of considering the future.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
So yes and no, Yes, I'm going to have a
conversation with our manager on the number of seventh round
picks that he chose to keep, but that'll be a
conversation for another day. But they do make all six picks,
and he doesn't make any trades on draft weekend, and
we've got six new football players, and obviously they'll be
(02:05):
more added as we go, the undrafted free agents, the
scouts burning up the phone lines. I've seen mister Cooper
go by our capologist Andrew Barry quickly as soon as
he was doing to this press conference, going back to
his office. Still some work to be done on this roster,
and he did say that in his press conference post draft,
(02:27):
along with head coach Kevin Stefanski. Still plenty of work
to do, but we do have six draft picks, and
it starts off in round number two on Friday night,
pick number fifty four. According to Dane Brugler, the fifth
best defensive tackle in this draft Mike Hall junior, not
Michael Mike Hall junior from the Ohio State University now
(02:49):
at Cleveland Brown. You're one thought on Mike Hall junior.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
So yes, one thought he is.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
If you have more you can you can pull as
the girls the girl sometimes has like six or seven
for the one.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Okay, they all kind of go together, So one big thought.
I really liked what Andrew Berry had to say yesterday
about Mike in the sense that he's tailor made for
this attack style defense. Just someone who's explosive, he's quick,
and how he can rush the passer. Glenn Cook also
described him as a shape shifter, which I really loved.
(03:21):
Just his ability to attack the quarterback I think is
something that on the interior the Browns could really use.
And today you know, Barry added to that, saying just
his ability to rush just as like from a physical standpoint,
but also his feel as a rusher I think is
a really unique skill set that they can use from
(03:42):
a young guy.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
And he's battled a couple of injuries and we're gonna
have to work through that. I think maybe some opportunities
are going to come with all six of these guys
on special teams. You're gonna make your mark early. It's
probably gonna be on special teams given how deep this
roster is. But you know, you've got some older guys
on that defensive line, and everybody came back, which is
(04:05):
awesome and I couldn't be happier about that, But you
do have to have an eye on the future. And
Ika last year and now Mike Hall Junior this year,
I would think would lead you to think that these
are the guys that they're grooming to eventually take over
some of those spots.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah, and they can learn from you know, guys like Miles,
like Mo who's come who came back, sid Areas, like
all those guys that have really just created this defensive,
this defense that they had last year. You know, they
can they can learn, they can see how this works
and find their way in the NFL, which I think
is a really good opportunity for Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I mean, and this is a guy that in early
mocks a month ago probably was in the third round.
Now he goes in the second round at pick number
fifty four. Onto the third round we go and at
pick eighty five, the Browns go get a guard. And
it's in a little while since we've gone after a
guard in this draft, but they do, and they go
(05:05):
to the University of Michigan and defending national champ, Zach
Zinter with pick number eighty five, six ' five almost
sixty six, three hundred and nine pounds. He's been through
the building on Saturday. Got a chance to sit down
with him. Very very impressive young man and a guy
that's going to get a chance to learn behind some
(05:27):
really good players. And again this pick maybe with an
eye more toward the future.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
I think that was kind of the thinking behind it,
especially because he's coming off that leg injury that he
endured against Ohio State last year, you know, breaking the
fibula and tibula like.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
That's at the hands of our defensive test, yes, which
was crazy.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
They talked about that today, just kind of the how
crazy it is the fact that that happened and now
they're both here with the Browns. But what I thought,
what really stood out to me today was the fact
that he was talking about how he's fully cleared, he
feels really strong, that he's made a lot of progress
and that he feels calm, and that he'll be here
ready for a rookie mini camp later this month, which
(06:04):
I think is a really big deal for him to
be able to acclimate super early with this team. And
the thing that really stood out to me from Andrew
Berry was saying that he's an excellent pass protector, which
I think is something that on that offensive line from
a young guy that he can learn, can grow and
really add to this offensive line.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's I think he and
Wyatteller are going to hit it off. It could be
a very dangerous combination the two of them together between
the hunting, fishing, the love of the guns. But clearly
here's a guy that has a lot of upside a leader.
I think Andrew Berry was quick to point that out
(06:42):
on Friday Night. Blue collar but a guy that knows
how to work, wants to work, and wants to be
a key member of a football team.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Heartbeat of the culture at Michigan was how he was described.
So I think that's a really cool trait for him
to bring here.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Absolutely all right on to Saturday and again the longest
day maybe that I've had in twelve years. We did
a draft show for three hours. We did not make
a pick. That is great, We're going to kind of
tweak that next year. But I never thought that that
would actually be the case. But the draft seemed to
come to a crawl in the fourth and fifth rounds,
(07:21):
which I could not figure out for the life. Mean,
there was a lot of trading, There was a lot
of moving around, There were a lot of This draft
was a draft with a lot of runs wide receiver
or defensive tackle or corner or then the running backs went.
It just came in bunches. But the Browns had to
wait till the fifth round and it picked one fifty
(07:42):
six Jamari Thrash wide receiver from Louisville. However, before that
at Georgia State and then entered the transfer portal after
four years, but made his market Louisville, wasn't recruited by
any of the Power fives, but then had his pick
of the Power fives when he left Georgia State.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Yeah, and the Browns really see him as a receiver
who can be productive both inside and outside, which I
think is a really unique aspect of his skill set
and a solid playmaker with the ball in his hands.
And Andrew Berry again described him as an outstanding separator,
which I think for a wide receiver is a really
good trait to have, especially with this offense. So I
(08:24):
think he has an opportunity to develop under you know,
guys like Amari Cooper, like Jerry Judy, Elijah Moore who
can really find his way and learn the nuances of
the league, the nuances of route running in the NFL,
and develop into you know, a good wide receiver.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Well, I mean, and you take a look at the
wide receiver room and now you've got nine wide receivers. Yes,
it's a very very crowded wide receiver room. The one
thing he doesn't have a lot of experience in his
special teams, which I was a little surprised by. Yes,
but again, here's a guy like everybody else that was
drafted here this weekend. They're going to have to find
(09:03):
a way and make their mark in special teams sooner
other than later if they want to get on the field.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
He said he was a gunner at Louisville, so which
I think is a cool element on special teams that
he can bring and really dive into to find that role,
especially early on.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Yeah, I think the other interesting thing when he transferred
into Louisville seven of the first eight games he led
the team in receiving. Oh wow. Then and then a
broken hand he had to fight through for the last
month of the year. But a guy that made his
mark in an acc situation. So a guy I think
that definitely bears watching because he has the speed, but
(09:39):
he also has the ability to go and get the football,
which is something I think that this team is going
to need here. They're going to need someone to stretch
the field to allow Judy and Cooper and Najoku to
go underneath and make the plays that they do. So
onto the sixth round we go Nathaniel Watson, linebacker, Mississippi State.
There was some question, I know Andrew Barry said, we
(10:03):
were very comfortable with the person the player. Obviously they
were comfortable with as well. But Nathaniel Watson from Mississippi
State linebacker. You know, he made some plays in twenty three.
I think he led the SEC and tackles. So here's
a guy that we needed another linebacker. You go and
get some youth there.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
And you know, one of the traits that you know,
one of the scouts talked about with Watson was his
toughness and intelligence at that linebacker position. That's what really drew.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Them to him.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
And you know, he's really good in the wrong game,
particularly with his strength. And I think one of the
things that Andrew talked about as well was, you know,
with the changes in the in the in the kicking game,
that maybe some guys that have that size could be
necessary and so again another opportunity for somebody on special
teams to find their mark with their skill set. So
those were kind of those elements that really stood out
(10:55):
about Watson that drew them to him.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
I think the other thing to note is every year
AB and coach they go and they get a guy
from the Senior Bowl. He was a top linebacker on
the American team at the Senior Bowl. He's got great jeans,
He's got a great uncle and an uncle that both
played in the league. I remember Tommy Age with the
(11:18):
Cowboys winning Super Bowls in ninety two and ninety three.
I'm old it happened, but I mean, here's a guy
that again if you look at if I can pull
up the linebacker room here in my notes, you know,
we lost some guys. Yeah, and there's a little bit
of a leadership void. And I mean j Okay and
(11:41):
Jordan Hicks are going to be counted on heavily. Devin
Bush is I think a wild card. But if he
can play the way he did when he was drafted,
I think the sky's the limit for him. But this
is a guy, along with Tony Fields, that you can
continue to develop into some big time players potentially.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Yeah, absolutely, definitely agree.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
All right onto round number seven and two picks. We
don't need this two picks in the seventh round. We
need we need answers. Yeah, yes, yes we do. However,
they get a corner, and we had been told leading
up to the draft Day three there's gonna be a
lot of corners available. Uh, and they go and get
(12:21):
Miles Harden, a corner from South Dakota. What can you
tell us about it? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (12:26):
So baby, he was talking about how his instincts and
versatility really stood out about what he can bring to
that or with his skill set to that group. And
I really think it's an opportunity to develop a young
guy behind somebody like Greg Newsoen, behind somebody like Denzel
who can grow and find his his role. But I
think you know that versatility is a good trait for
(12:48):
him to have with the secondary and being a young
guy in that in that mix, yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
I think that there are five eleven and ninety five pounds.
It's interesting we've had the kind of conversation all weekend
about age because normally you're drafting guys, you're trying to
draft guys maybe are a little younger. This team has
done that, but the covid era has pushed the age
limit up. Yeah, and he's twenty three years of age.
(13:15):
He had plenty of opportunities to leave. Was very loyal
to South Dakota because they gave him a chance and said,
I'm staying here and I'm going to play out my
career here and get my degree. I just he's I
think he's a fascinating prospect because Dane Brugler had a
fifth round grade on him, Yes, and there were other
(13:36):
guys from an analyst standpoint that had him with a
much higher grade. And there were a lot of teams
that were circling the wagons. They thought he could be
one of the higher undrafted draft picks to go after.
So we've seen a lot of buzz about Miles Harden,
but a guy that could fit right into this room.
And Cam Mitchell's in his second year. You've got done,
(14:00):
You've got Emerson and Newsom, but you got to build
depth behind.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
And we saw too. I mean, you think about it.
A lot of it with injuries, with that the Browns
dealt with last year. I think a lot of that
is a part of this of just building depth because
you don't know what's going to happen, and obviously you're
hoping nobody gets hurt, but you can't predict what happens,
and so having guys that can step in like we
saw last year, this is kind of another opportunity for
somebody in case that does happen.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Yeah, and we talked about it with all six guys
need to play special teams, but there's a chance. I mean,
we went through five quarterbacks, right, we went through how
many running backs? Like there are possibilities for all of
these guys to play at some point or another. You
hope that's not the case from an injury standpoint, but
(14:46):
if you're on the fifty three man roster on this
football team, you need to be ready to play. And
this coaching staff's proven that they can get everybody up
for the task and up for the challenge. Final pick,
seventh round, pick two forty three, Juwan Briggs, defensive tackle, Cincinnati.
I got a little flyer right before we went on,
(15:09):
but otherwise I don't know a lot about him. But
you've already written a bot him on Cleveland Browns dot com.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Yes, wrote a little bit, did a lot of research
in the moment because I also did not. But he's
a local guy. He's from Cincinnati, went to where he
started off at Virginia and then transferred and finished his
collegiate career at Cincinnati. So that's a cool element to
him as a as a person. He can, you know,
(15:33):
again another guy that can develop under this veteran defensive line.
One of the things that Andrew Berry talked about with
his skill set is his movement ability, and I think
that is an element that they can, you know, really
foster and develop over time of just his of how
he fits with this defensive line. You know, he was
a team captain in twenty twenty three. He tallied twenty
(15:55):
seven tackles and six with six tackles for a loss
last season, and he also earned all big twelve honorable
Mention accolades. So you know, I think there's there's some
elements there. His coach also reached out and said that,
you know, he was really excited that that the Browns
drafted Juan and just you know that he got this
(16:15):
opportunity for his family, for him, and that he sees
him you know that he could have an impact with
the Browns early on because he was a pro while
in college. And so I think that's a really cool
testament to hear about his character from his coach, especially
for a late round guy like that.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
So those are the picks in the twenty twenty four
NFL Draft for York Cleveland Browns, the one pick that
you think helps his team the most in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
So I was thinking about this, Yeah, I do think
it's my call. I think that is the guy, you know,
even as a young player. He's twenty, you know, so
he's he's young, and even with so many veterans on
that defensive line, but I think the way that defensive
coordinator Jim Schwartz like rotates the guys on that defensive line,
(17:02):
and knowing that Shorts was so excited that they drafted him,
like so exciting.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
No, but he walked by our window last night and
we were like, okay, so they went defense. Yeah, he
was excited.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
And so I think that those elements, you know, I
think he could find maybe you know, obviously not going
to be a starter, but finding those those his role,
finding those opportunities that he can't have an impact early on.
And and so I see that as just he has
that most Oh my gosh, he has that opportunity to
(17:37):
have an impact next season.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
It's okay, you should have seen me earlier trying to talk.
It was pretty impressive on the defensive line. It's all
about rotation and with his football team, So I mean
you could get in a rotation that has six guys,
seven guys getting snaps.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
So I mean, definitely an opportunity for him to work
his way in right away and make an impact on
the interior of that defensive line. Is there a position
on this team you'd still like to see a draft?
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Yes, I think there's kind of two. For me. Honestly,
I think tight end. You know, yeah, obviously that group
is led by David Joku had a stellar twenty twenty
three season, and you know, they went and went and
signed Giovanni Richie in free agency, and you have Jordan
Nakens in that in that group as well. But I
think there could still be some depth there, especially if
(18:27):
there's different ways that they could use two tight ends
in their offense, as we've seen in the past, and
so I think that could be some depth. The other
one I was thinking about too is running back. We
didn't take it. They did not take a running back
in the draft. While they did sign some guys in
free agency, I still think there are some questions about
(18:49):
that group, especially not knowing completely you know, Nick Chubb's health,
Like obviously they believe he's on track and he's trending
in that direction, and that's awesome, that's what they want,
but you just don't know until.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Yeah, well, and is coming back from an injury as.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Well well, yes, exactly, and so and obviously, like you know,
Jerome Ford had a stellar twenty twenty three season stepping
into that featured back role. Pierre Strong Junior had those
moments where he was able to come in and have
an impact, and so, but I think there's still an
opportunity there to add depth to round out that position.
And I know they also signed Deonta Foreman. But still
(19:28):
I think there is that opportunity to find sure some
depth there just not knowing and being able to find
a rotation that works well, like of if guys are
you know, just kind of depending on how the season
plays out with that group. So those are kind of
my two that I was thinking about.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
I think that's a good movie. I wonder if the
Browns had a fourth round pick if they don't go
tight end or running back in that because that's where
you saw the run on both those positions. Really yeah, absolutely, yeah,
the tight end one especially was ay Air Mitchell Payden too.
He's a great blocker. Fascinating to see how that room
plays out. I mean, I think Aikins would tell you
(20:04):
that he didn't have the kind of year I think
he was hoping to have. Absolutely, maybe he had some
more opportunities with Harrison Bryant now gone something to watch
for sure, especially at the tight end position. So in
twenty twenty five, never too early. I mean, according to
the scouts, they start on Monday, working through that they
(20:27):
own picks, their own picks in picks one through rounds
one through four. In round six they have three sixth
rounders and they have one seventh, thank god.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Back in the first round.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
More importantly, back in the first round.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Thursday night activity, we'll be ready to go.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
I won't know what to do. No same Well, and
we were talking about it like we haven't had one
for three years, but really we haven't had one for
four of the last six because we didn't have it
in nineteen because of the Odell trade. So then we
had twenty with Will's and twenty one Newsome. That's it.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
That's crazy.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Yeah, it's been a while since we've had a first
round pick. Wow, and the excitement that goes around with
having that first round pick. So appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
It is time to go celebrate the weekend, and we'll
leave it at that. I want to thank Jacob Griffin
and Jacob Melencig for their help for Kelsey Russo. I'm
Jason Gibbs. You can like and subscribe today to the
best podcast available wherever you get your podcasts. Check us
out on YouTube, YouTube dot com slash Browns. Thanks for watching,
(21:37):
Thanks for listening to the best podcast available.
We welcome you into the Cross Country Mortgage Campus here
in Berea. This is the best podcast available and the
twenty twenty four NFL Draft is officially in the books,
with maybe the longest day three that I have done
in twelve years. Joined by staff writer Kelsey Russo, who
(00:29):
I think has experienced her first and if she comes
back next year after this day, she deserves a medal
for this. Uno had his head on his desk. He
was sleeping during the end of the draft. I don't
know what was going on. But the draft is over
and it's time for us to break it down here
(00:49):
on the best podcast available. Kelsey, let's get down to it.
Are you surprised that this team made all six picks?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
When I was thinking about this, at first, my initial
thought was yes. But then when I kind of honestly
like took a second to think yes and no. When
I went back and kind of looked at Aby's history
of drafting, you know, the he's trade the last two
second rounders that we that they had the last two years,
the seventh rounders I wasn't expecting us to take. But
(01:18):
then when looking at the twenty twenty five picks with
the multiple sixth round picks. It kind of made sense
that we stayed. They stayed where they were at because
of what is to come and you know, being able
to move around. You know, maybe what I was thinking
was that they would have like packaged some of those
and moved up in the draft or different spots. But
(01:39):
in the end, it kind of does make sense, just
kind of considering the future.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
So yes and no, Yes, I'm going to have a
conversation with our manager on the number of seventh round
picks that he chose to keep, but that'll be a
conversation for another day. But they do make all six picks,
and he doesn't make any trades on draft weekend, and
we've got six new football players, and obviously they'll be
(02:05):
more added as we go, the undrafted free agents, the
scouts burning up the phone lines. I've seen mister Cooper
go by our capologist Andrew Barry quickly as soon as
he was doing to this press conference, going back to
his office. Still some work to be done on this roster,
and he did say that in his press conference post draft,
(02:27):
along with head coach Kevin Stefanski. Still plenty of work
to do, but we do have six draft picks, and
it starts off in round number two on Friday night,
pick number fifty four. According to Dane Brugler, the fifth
best defensive tackle in this draft Mike Hall junior, not
Michael Mike Hall junior from the Ohio State University now
(02:49):
at Cleveland Brown. You're one thought on Mike Hall junior.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
So yes, one thought he is.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
If you have more you can you can pull as
the girls the girl sometimes has like six or seven
for the one.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Okay, they all kind of go together, So one big thought.
I really liked what Andrew Berry had to say yesterday
about Mike in the sense that he's tailor made for
this attack style defense. Just someone who's explosive, he's quick,
and how he can rush the passer. Glenn Cook also
described him as a shape shifter, which I really loved.
(03:21):
Just his ability to attack the quarterback I think is
something that on the interior the Browns could really use.
And today you know, Barry added to that, saying just
his ability to rush just as like from a physical standpoint,
but also his feel as a rusher I think is
a really unique skill set that they can use from
(03:42):
a young guy.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
And he's battled a couple of injuries and we're gonna
have to work through that. I think maybe some opportunities
are going to come with all six of these guys
on special teams. You're gonna make your mark early. It's
probably gonna be on special teams given how deep this
roster is. But you know, you've got some older guys
on that defensive line, and everybody came back, which is
(04:05):
awesome and I couldn't be happier about that, But you
do have to have an eye on the future. And
Ika last year and now Mike Hall Junior this year,
I would think would lead you to think that these
are the guys that they're grooming to eventually take over
some of those spots.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah, and they can learn from you know, guys like Miles,
like Mo who's come who came back, sid Areas, like
all those guys that have really just created this defensive,
this defense that they had last year. You know, they
can they can learn, they can see how this works
and find their way in the NFL, which I think
is a really good opportunity for Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I mean, and this is a guy that in early
mocks a month ago probably was in the third round.
Now he goes in the second round at pick number
fifty four. Onto the third round we go and at
pick eighty five, the Browns go get a guard. And
it's in a little while since we've gone after a
guard in this draft, but they do, and they go
(05:05):
to the University of Michigan and defending national champ, Zach
Zinter with pick number eighty five, six ' five almost
sixty six, three hundred and nine pounds. He's been through
the building on Saturday. Got a chance to sit down
with him. Very very impressive young man and a guy
that's going to get a chance to learn behind some
(05:27):
really good players. And again this pick maybe with an
eye more toward the future.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
I think that was kind of the thinking behind it,
especially because he's coming off that leg injury that he
endured against Ohio State last year, you know, breaking the
fibula and tibula like.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
That's at the hands of our defensive test, yes, which
was crazy.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
They talked about that today, just kind of the how
crazy it is the fact that that happened and now
they're both here with the Browns. But what I thought,
what really stood out to me today was the fact
that he was talking about how he's fully cleared, he
feels really strong, that he's made a lot of progress
and that he feels calm, and that he'll be here
ready for a rookie mini camp later this month, which
(06:04):
I think is a really big deal for him to
be able to acclimate super early with this team. And
the thing that really stood out to me from Andrew
Berry was saying that he's an excellent pass protector, which
I think is something that on that offensive line from
a young guy that he can learn, can grow and
really add to this offensive line.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's I think he and
Wyatteller are going to hit it off. It could be
a very dangerous combination the two of them together between
the hunting, fishing, the love of the guns. But clearly
here's a guy that has a lot of upside a leader.
I think Andrew Berry was quick to point that out
(06:42):
on Friday Night. Blue collar but a guy that knows
how to work, wants to work, and wants to be
a key member of a football team.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Heartbeat of the culture at Michigan was how he was described.
So I think that's a really cool trait for him
to bring here.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Absolutely all right on to Saturday and again the longest
day maybe that I've had in twelve years. We did
a draft show for three hours. We did not make
a pick. That is great, We're going to kind of
tweak that next year. But I never thought that that
would actually be the case. But the draft seemed to
come to a crawl in the fourth and fifth rounds,
(07:21):
which I could not figure out for the life. Mean,
there was a lot of trading, There was a lot
of moving around, There were a lot of This draft
was a draft with a lot of runs wide receiver
or defensive tackle or corner or then the running backs went.
It just came in bunches. But the Browns had to
wait till the fifth round and it picked one fifty
(07:42):
six Jamari Thrash wide receiver from Louisville. However, before that
at Georgia State and then entered the transfer portal after
four years, but made his market Louisville, wasn't recruited by
any of the Power fives, but then had his pick
of the Power fives when he left Georgia State.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Yeah, and the Browns really see him as a receiver
who can be productive both inside and outside, which I
think is a really unique aspect of his skill set
and a solid playmaker with the ball in his hands.
And Andrew Berry again described him as an outstanding separator,
which I think for a wide receiver is a really
good trait to have, especially with this offense. So I
(08:24):
think he has an opportunity to develop under you know,
guys like Amari Cooper, like Jerry Judy, Elijah Moore who
can really find his way and learn the nuances of
the league, the nuances of route running in the NFL,
and develop into you know, a good wide receiver.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Well, I mean, and you take a look at the
wide receiver room and now you've got nine wide receivers. Yes,
it's a very very crowded wide receiver room. The one
thing he doesn't have a lot of experience in his
special teams, which I was a little surprised by. Yes,
but again, here's a guy like everybody else that was
drafted here this weekend. They're going to have to find
(09:03):
a way and make their mark in special teams sooner
other than later if they want to get on the field.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
He said he was a gunner at Louisville, so which
I think is a cool element on special teams that
he can bring and really dive into to find that role,
especially early on.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Yeah, I think the other interesting thing when he transferred
into Louisville seven of the first eight games he led
the team in receiving. Oh wow. Then and then a
broken hand he had to fight through for the last
month of the year. But a guy that made his
mark in an acc situation. So a guy I think
that definitely bears watching because he has the speed, but
(09:39):
he also has the ability to go and get the football,
which is something I think that this team is going
to need here. They're going to need someone to stretch
the field to allow Judy and Cooper and Najoku to
go underneath and make the plays that they do. So
onto the sixth round we go Nathaniel Watson, linebacker, Mississippi State.
There was some question, I know Andrew Barry said, we
(10:03):
were very comfortable with the person the player. Obviously they
were comfortable with as well. But Nathaniel Watson from Mississippi
State linebacker. You know, he made some plays in twenty three.
I think he led the SEC and tackles. So here's
a guy that we needed another linebacker. You go and
get some youth there.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
And you know, one of the traits that you know,
one of the scouts talked about with Watson was his
toughness and intelligence at that linebacker position. That's what really drew.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Them to him.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
And you know, he's really good in the wrong game,
particularly with his strength. And I think one of the
things that Andrew talked about as well was, you know,
with the changes in the in the in the kicking game,
that maybe some guys that have that size could be
necessary and so again another opportunity for somebody on special
teams to find their mark with their skill set. So
those were kind of those elements that really stood out
(10:55):
about Watson that drew them to him.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
I think the other thing to note is every year
AB and coach they go and they get a guy
from the Senior Bowl. He was a top linebacker on
the American team at the Senior Bowl. He's got great jeans,
He's got a great uncle and an uncle that both
played in the league. I remember Tommy Age with the
(11:18):
Cowboys winning Super Bowls in ninety two and ninety three.
I'm old it happened, but I mean, here's a guy
that again if you look at if I can pull
up the linebacker room here in my notes, you know,
we lost some guys. Yeah, and there's a little bit
of a leadership void. And I mean j Okay and
(11:41):
Jordan Hicks are going to be counted on heavily. Devin
Bush is I think a wild card. But if he
can play the way he did when he was drafted,
I think the sky's the limit for him. But this
is a guy, along with Tony Fields, that you can
continue to develop into some big time players potentially.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Yeah, absolutely, definitely agree.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
All right onto round number seven and two picks. We
don't need this two picks in the seventh round. We
need we need answers. Yeah, yes, yes we do. However,
they get a corner, and we had been told leading
up to the draft Day three there's gonna be a
lot of corners available. Uh, and they go and get
(12:21):
Miles Harden, a corner from South Dakota. What can you
tell us about it? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (12:26):
So baby, he was talking about how his instincts and
versatility really stood out about what he can bring to
that or with his skill set to that group. And
I really think it's an opportunity to develop a young
guy behind somebody like Greg Newsoen, behind somebody like Denzel
who can grow and find his his role. But I
think you know that versatility is a good trait for
(12:48):
him to have with the secondary and being a young
guy in that in that mix, yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
I think that there are five eleven and ninety five pounds.
It's interesting we've had the kind of conversation all weekend
about age because normally you're drafting guys, you're trying to
draft guys maybe are a little younger. This team has
done that, but the covid era has pushed the age
limit up. Yeah, and he's twenty three years of age.
(13:15):
He had plenty of opportunities to leave. Was very loyal
to South Dakota because they gave him a chance and said,
I'm staying here and I'm going to play out my
career here and get my degree. I just he's I
think he's a fascinating prospect because Dane Brugler had a
fifth round grade on him, Yes, and there were other
(13:36):
guys from an analyst standpoint that had him with a
much higher grade. And there were a lot of teams
that were circling the wagons. They thought he could be
one of the higher undrafted draft picks to go after.
So we've seen a lot of buzz about Miles Harden,
but a guy that could fit right into this room.
And Cam Mitchell's in his second year. You've got done,
(14:00):
You've got Emerson and Newsom, but you got to build
depth behind.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
And we saw too. I mean, you think about it.
A lot of it with injuries, with that the Browns
dealt with last year. I think a lot of that
is a part of this of just building depth because
you don't know what's going to happen, and obviously you're
hoping nobody gets hurt, but you can't predict what happens,
and so having guys that can step in like we
saw last year, this is kind of another opportunity for
somebody in case that does happen.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Yeah, and we talked about it with all six guys
need to play special teams, but there's a chance. I mean,
we went through five quarterbacks, right, we went through how
many running backs? Like there are possibilities for all of
these guys to play at some point or another. You
hope that's not the case from an injury standpoint, but
(14:46):
if you're on the fifty three man roster on this
football team, you need to be ready to play. And
this coaching staff's proven that they can get everybody up
for the task and up for the challenge. Final pick,
seventh round, pick two forty three, Juwan Briggs, defensive tackle, Cincinnati.
I got a little flyer right before we went on,
(15:09):
but otherwise I don't know a lot about him. But
you've already written a bot him on Cleveland Browns dot com.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Yes, wrote a little bit, did a lot of research
in the moment because I also did not. But he's
a local guy. He's from Cincinnati, went to where he
started off at Virginia and then transferred and finished his
collegiate career at Cincinnati. So that's a cool element to
him as a as a person. He can, you know,
(15:33):
again another guy that can develop under this veteran defensive line.
One of the things that Andrew Berry talked about with
his skill set is his movement ability, and I think
that is an element that they can, you know, really
foster and develop over time of just his of how
he fits with this defensive line. You know, he was
a team captain in twenty twenty three. He tallied twenty
(15:55):
seven tackles and six with six tackles for a loss
last season, and he also earned all big twelve honorable
Mention accolades. So you know, I think there's there's some
elements there. His coach also reached out and said that,
you know, he was really excited that that the Browns
drafted Juan and just you know that he got this
(16:15):
opportunity for his family, for him, and that he sees
him you know that he could have an impact with
the Browns early on because he was a pro while
in college. And so I think that's a really cool
testament to hear about his character from his coach, especially
for a late round guy like that.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
So those are the picks in the twenty twenty four
NFL Draft for York Cleveland Browns, the one pick that
you think helps his team the most in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
So I was thinking about this, Yeah, I do think
it's my call. I think that is the guy, you know,
even as a young player. He's twenty, you know, so
he's he's young, and even with so many veterans on
that defensive line, but I think the way that defensive
coordinator Jim Schwartz like rotates the guys on that defensive line,
(17:02):
and knowing that Shorts was so excited that they drafted him,
like so exciting.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
No, but he walked by our window last night and
we were like, okay, so they went defense. Yeah, he
was excited.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
And so I think that those elements, you know, I
think he could find maybe you know, obviously not going
to be a starter, but finding those those his role,
finding those opportunities that he can't have an impact early on.
And and so I see that as just he has
that most Oh my gosh, he has that opportunity to
(17:37):
have an impact next season.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
It's okay, you should have seen me earlier trying to talk.
It was pretty impressive on the defensive line. It's all
about rotation and with his football team, So I mean
you could get in a rotation that has six guys,
seven guys getting snaps.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
So I mean, definitely an opportunity for him to work
his way in right away and make an impact on
the interior of that defensive line. Is there a position
on this team you'd still like to see a draft?
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Yes, I think there's kind of two. For me. Honestly,
I think tight end. You know, yeah, obviously that group
is led by David Joku had a stellar twenty twenty
three season, and you know, they went and went and
signed Giovanni Richie in free agency, and you have Jordan
Nakens in that in that group as well. But I
think there could still be some depth there, especially if
(18:27):
there's different ways that they could use two tight ends
in their offense, as we've seen in the past, and
so I think that could be some depth. The other
one I was thinking about too is running back. We
didn't take it. They did not take a running back
in the draft. While they did sign some guys in
free agency, I still think there are some questions about
(18:49):
that group, especially not knowing completely you know, Nick Chubb's health,
Like obviously they believe he's on track and he's trending
in that direction, and that's awesome, that's what they want,
but you just don't know until.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Yeah, well, and is coming back from an injury as.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Well well, yes, exactly, and so and obviously, like you know,
Jerome Ford had a stellar twenty twenty three season stepping
into that featured back role. Pierre Strong Junior had those
moments where he was able to come in and have
an impact, and so, but I think there's still an
opportunity there to add depth to round out that position.
And I know they also signed Deonta Foreman. But still
(19:28):
I think there is that opportunity to find sure some
depth there just not knowing and being able to find
a rotation that works well, like of if guys are
you know, just kind of depending on how the season
plays out with that group. So those are kind of
my two that I was thinking about.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
I think that's a good movie. I wonder if the
Browns had a fourth round pick if they don't go
tight end or running back in that because that's where
you saw the run on both those positions. Really yeah, absolutely, yeah,
the tight end one especially was ay Air Mitchell Payden too.
He's a great blocker. Fascinating to see how that room
plays out. I mean, I think Aikins would tell you
(20:04):
that he didn't have the kind of year I think
he was hoping to have. Absolutely, maybe he had some
more opportunities with Harrison Bryant now gone something to watch
for sure, especially at the tight end position. So in
twenty twenty five, never too early. I mean, according to
the scouts, they start on Monday, working through that they
(20:27):
own picks, their own picks in picks one through rounds
one through four. In round six they have three sixth
rounders and they have one seventh, thank god.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Back in the first round.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
More importantly, back in the first round.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Thursday night activity, we'll be ready to go.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
I won't know what to do. No same Well, and
we were talking about it like we haven't had one
for three years, but really we haven't had one for
four of the last six because we didn't have it
in nineteen because of the Odell trade. So then we
had twenty with Will's and twenty one Newsome. That's it.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
That's crazy.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Yeah, it's been a while since we've had a first
round pick. Wow, and the excitement that goes around with
having that first round pick. So appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
It is time to go celebrate the weekend, and we'll
leave it at that. I want to thank Jacob Griffin
and Jacob Melencig for their help for Kelsey Russo. I'm
Jason Gibbs. You can like and subscribe today to the
best podcast available wherever you get your podcasts. Check us
out on YouTube, YouTube dot com slash Browns. Thanks for watching,
(21:37):
Thanks for listening to the best podcast available.
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