The 2024 NFL Draft is now in the rearview mirror. After a flurry of selections from April 25 to April 27, 257 players were selected to join the NFL.
With that, we give you our full recap of the Cleveland Browns‘ draft, with analysis on every selection the team made during the weekend and an in-depth look at their top pick.
For more information on the players your favorite team drafted, it’s not too late to get the 2024 NFL Draft Guide, which includes expanded scouting reports, draft grades, offseason reports, unique advanced data, PFF grades and much more.
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2024 Draft Picks
- 2 (54): DI Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State
- 3 (85): G Zak Zinter, Michigan
- 5 (157): WR Jamari Thrash, Louisville
- 6 (206): LB Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State
- 7 (227): CB Myles Harden, South Dakota
- 7 (243): DI Jowon Briggs, Cincinnati
Hall — Hall stays heads up the road to Cleveland as a high-upside interior pass-rusher. He ranks 107th on the PFF big board but finished 2023 with the second-best pass-rush win rate among FBS defensive tackles. He’s a bit undersized and needs some work in the run game, but he could immediately attract blockers away from Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith on passing downs.
Zinter — Zinter suffered a nasty leg injury in Michigan’s final regular-season game, keeping him out of pre-draft workouts. Zinter is a long but stiff guard who offers some solid depth to the Browns’ interior after not allowing a sack on more than 280 pass-blocking snaps in 2023 and recording a positive grade on 15.7% of Michigan’s run plays.
Thrash — Thrash forced 17 missed tackles in 2023, which ranked fourth in the ACC. His 1,658 yards after the catch since 2022 is the best mark for all receivers.
Watson — Watson’s athletic profile won’t blow you away, but he’s a strong linebacker who rarely misses tackles, an often undervalued trait at the position. Watson also steadily improved over his tenure at Mississippi State, finishing with a career-best 73.1 PFF grade in 2023.
Harden — Harden was productive in the South Dakota secondary, as he came down with an interception and forced seven incompletions on 45 throws into his coverage in 2023. He also recorded eight stops in coverage, adding another nine on run plays.
Briggs — Briggs played somewhat out of position in 2023, lining up over the opposing offensive tackles more than in previous years in his career. He performed far better in 2022 when he was used more in the A- or B-gaps, earning a 77.4 PFF grade.
DRAFT GRADE: C+
Rookie Spotlight: DI Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State
Strengths:
- Can shoot gaps and get across the face of linemen with consistency.
- Looks like a basketball player with his euro-step setups.
- Decent ability to corner.
Weaknesses:
- Leg drive lacks power and displacement strength, even against single blocks.
- Does not hold up well against combination blocks.
The bottom line
Hall's measurements make him a tough player to slot into a specific scheme, but due to how quickly he can win with finesse on the interior, his best spot in the league is likely as a DT/DE in a versatile 4-3 front. His pass-rush abilities give him the chance to be a productive pass-rush specialist.
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