The 2024 NFL Draft starts this Thursday, but Browns fans will have to wait till Friday night for the start of the Browns draft. Both national and local Cleveland beat writers seem to feel Cleveland’s best course of action at pick 54 is to draft a wide receiver or a defensive lineman. Betting lines have the Browns favored to pick a defensive lineman at +150. This means if you bet $100.00 on this and win you would receive back $250.00, your original bet of $100.00 and an additional $150.00. Interestingly, the sports books have offensive line at +350, cornerback at +400 and wide receiver at +600. If I were drafting for the Browns I would put the priority on the offensive line.

In the Andrew Berry era, the Browns have spent the most money on their offensive line. Currently it has the highest spending ($48.5 million) than any other position group besides quarterback (due to Deshaun Watson’s contract). Cleveland spends 16.70% of the salary cap on their offensive line, while 23.28% of the cap goes to the quarterback position. Currently left tackle Jedrick Wills is not signed for 2025 and right tackle Jack Conklin’s new contract is structured so he could be cut prior to the 2025 season and create $3.9 million in cap savings. Add to this, left guard Joel Bitonio has suggested he has started to consider retirement. Because Watson and his contract aren’t going anywhere any time soon, it would seem logical for the Browns not only use their first pick on an offensive tackle, but to also use a day three pick on an offensive guard.

The reasoning would be both starting tackles, 2024 draft pick on the left and Dawand Jones on the right, would be under rookie contracts. Add a 2024 draft pick at guard and the position group spending would go down considerably. This would allow the Browns future cap flexibility for other position groups, like defensive line and wide receiver. Who would be available?

Pick 54. Kinglsey Suamataia, OT, BYU, Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame, Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale, Patrick Paul, OT Houston.

Day Three Pick. Mason McCormick, OG, South Dakota State, Sataoa Laumea, OG, Utah, Javion Cohan, OG, Miami (FL.), Brandon Coleman, OG, TCU.

The Browns 2024 draft should be used to focus on future rosters, 2025 and beyond.