The Cleveland Browns traded down again in Round 3, leading to their selections of Missouri DT Jordan Elliott and LSU ILB Jacob Phillips.
The second trade down for the Cleveland Browns did not move the needle like the first trade down. A little bit of luck was involved the first time around as they were able to draft a player of need at a good draft position. The second time around? Maybe not so much.
Cleveland traded down with New Orleans and the Saints proceeded to take a player the Browns really could hvae needed. Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun. A bit of a misstep considering at the time Cleveland had not yet taken a linebacker. As for the third round pick in 2021? Barring a catastrophic series of events it is going to be closer to Round 4 than Round 2.
When Cleveland was back on the clock they made their selection. Missouri defensive tackle Jordan Elliott.
This was a bit of a head scratcher. The Browns do have a for need defensive line depth, but not on the interior. Elliott will join the group of Larry Ogunjobi, Sheldon Richardson, and Andrew Billings on the Browns defensive front.
Cleveland would stay put at 97 and take a linebacker, LSU’s Jacob Phillips.
Phillips should be able to step into the mix and compete for a starting job. Cleveland’s linebackers are not an inspiring group and the Browns need to keep adding to improve this position.
The frustrating thing with Round 3 is that Cleveland could have taken two linebackers instead of adding a player at a position where there really is not a need. Cleveland could have taken Phillips with their first third rounder and added another linebacker at 97. That strategy seems like it would have worked quite nicely.
