2021 Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns Take WR Jaylen Waddle at No. 17 Overall

First off, my apologies for the tardiness of this post. Usually, I post this the day after the draft as a fun look forward to next year’s draft, but it slipped by me until this week. Nonetheless, here it is!

The 2020 NFL Draft has concluded, but every year, it’s interesting to take a very early look at how the 2021 NFL Draft could turn out for your Cleveland Browns. Last year, OT Alaric Johnson was mocked to the Browns. The position for Cleveland was spot on, taking an offensive tackle, but Johnson ended up staying in college another year due to injury.

Projections will change drastically over the course of a year, but for our early look, we turn to Dan Kadar of SB Nation and his 2021 mock draft. The Browns are projected to have the No. 17 pick, which is strictly based on Super Bowl odds from a sportsbook.

Kadar’s early assessment is that the Browns will look for a wide receiver:

17. Cleveland Browns - WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

This one is a little bit of a leap — which is saying something about a mock draft that is coming out a year before the actual draft. The Browns have one of the most expensive wide receiver units in the NFL with Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. Beckham was rumored in trade talks last year and Landry is due a combined $31 million in 2021 and 2022. Something may have to give.

What do you think, Browns fans? If Cleveland hypothetically had the No. 17 pick next year, would you be in favor of them drafting WR Jaylen Waddle, or do you have another prospect in mind?