CLEVELAND — The 2024 NFL Draft is in the books with the Cleveland Browns adding six new rookies to their 2024-25 roster.
The Browns focused on adding depth to their defense and special teams units selecting four defensive prospects with their six picks across days two and three of the draft.
With the end of the 2024 NFL Draft comes the completion of the Deshaun Watson trade. Going into the 2025 draft, the Browns will have their own first round pick for the first time since 2021 when Greg Newsome was taken #26 overall.
Read about each selection the Browns made in the 2024 NFL Draft below:
CLEVELAND BROWNS 2024 NFL DRAFT PICKS
- Round 2 - No. 54: Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State
- A Streetsboro native, Hall was a two-time All-Big Ten selection for OSU, tallying 10 tackles for loss and six sacks during his college career. As NFL.com's Lance Zierlein describes, "Hall plays with good pound-for-pound strength and stands up to bigger players in front of him. He’s twitchy to knock blockers off balance but will also be engulfed by size at times. He rushes with sudden feet and active hands to whip guards with quick wins but appears to lack the lower-body drive to capitalize on early advantages against stronger competition."
- Round 3 - No. 85: Zak Zinter, G, Michigan
- Zinter was one of the best at his position in college, making three All-Big Ten teams before being named a unanimous All-American as a senior in 2023. Unfortunately, his draft stock was hampered by his health, having broken his leg in the Wolverines' regular-season finale against Ohio State.
- Lance Zierlein writes, "He is an average athlete in short spaces but is very capable of climbing to the second level with good angles and making hits on short pulls. He can be stood up and neutralized by two-gapping pluggers but is rarely beaten soundly. His pass protection will be average by NFL standards. Active rushers will give him more issues than you might like."
- Round 5 - No. 156 (from Philadelphia via Arizona): Jamari Thrash, WR, Louisville
- Thrash spent four years at Georgia State before transferring to Louisville for the 2023 season. He was named First-team All-Sun Belt Conference in 2022 after starting every game for Panthers, leading the team with 61 receptions, 1,122 receiving yards (18.4 per) and 7 receiving touchdowns. Thrash caught 63 passes for 858 receiving yards and six touchdowns, and tallied one carry for 12 yards and a touchdown in his lone season at Louisville.
- Round 6 - No. 206 (via Baltimore): Nathaniel Watson, LB, Mississippi State
- The 23-year-old linebacker was highly productive during his six seasons at Mississippi State. In his 57 games played, Watson started 39 times for the Bulldogs. He totaled 379 tackles (35 for loss), 21 sacks and 2 INTs. Watson put a bow on his final season (2023) by racking up 137 tackles (13 for loss) and 10 sacks, leading the SEC in all three categories.
- Round 7 - No. 227 (via Tennessee): Myles Harden, CB, South Dakota
- Harden was named a third-team AP FCS All-American in 2023. He started all 13 games for South Dakota last year totaling 58 tackles and a single interception.
- Round 7 - No. 243: Jowon Briggs, DT, Cincinnati
- Briggs is a versatile lineman having played most positions on the defensive line during his time at Virginia and Cincinnati. Briggs played in 12 games last year totaling 27 tackles (6 for loss) and 2 sacks.
NFL MOCK DRAFTS FROM NFL EXPERTS & ANALYSTS
Below are who NFL experts and analysts expected the Browns to pick at No. 54 (spoiler alert: none were correct).
- Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus
- Kris Jenkins Jr. | DL | Michigan
- Analysis: "Cleveland overhauled its defensive line a season ago, but the interior could still use an impact player, and Kris Jenkins Jr. could become that guy in a hurry."
- Field Yates, ESPN
- Troy Franklin | WR | Oregon
- Analysis: “The Browns traded for Jerry Jeudy this offseason, but they still feel one wide receiver short on offense, especially since Amari Cooper is entering the final year of his deal. Franklin is a speedy big play waiting to happen.”
- Connor Rogers, NBC Sports
- Junior Colson | LB | Michigan
- Analysis: "Colson creates chaos in the middle of the field with explosive run stops and sideline-to-sideline range. The Browns have a lot of talent up front, but his skill set fits perfectly in the middle."
- Matt Miller, ESPN
- T'Vondre Sweat | DT | Texas
- Analysis: "Adding a space-eating defensive tackle for Jim Schwartz's scheme may not seem like a need, but my goodness, would this cause problems for offenses. How do you give Myles Garrett double-team attention when a 366-pound Outland Award-winning nose tackle is crashing the pocket? Trading for receiver Jerry Jeudy and signing linebackers Devin Bush and Jordan Hicks frees the Browns up to add the big nose tackle here."
- Charlie Campbell, WalterFootball
- Javon Bullard | S | Georgia
- Analysis: "The Browns could use more defensive back depth. Bullard (5-11, 180) totaled 56 tackles, two interceptions and five passes broken up in 2023. During 2022, he recorded 46 tackles, two interceptions, three passes broken up and 3.5 sacks. Bullard is highly instinctive, tough, physical, and has excellent feel and awareness. He also has a thinner frame, so it would help him to gain some weight for the NFL. Bullard is a corner/safety hybrid who is similar to Detroit Lions defensive backs C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Brian Branch."
NFL DRAFT BETTING ODDS
Here are the odds for what position the Cleveland Browns will select with their first draft pick, according to FanDuel:
- Defensive Lineman/Edge
- +170
- Offensive Line
- +430
- Cornerback
- +450
- Wide Receiver
- +500
- Linebacker
- +650
- Running Back
- +1,600
- Tight End
- +1,900
- Safety
- +2,400
- Quarterback
- +10,000