CLEVELAND — The 2020 NFL Draft is tonight, and the Cleveland Browns, led by new general manager Andrew Berry, will look to fill holes and add more depth. The Browns will kick their draft off with the No. 10 pick (unless they trade up or down), so before the Browns go on the clock, here’s everything you need to know.
The Browns’ picks
Cleveland has four picks in the first three rounds and will be looking to make them count.
- Round 1: No. 10
- Round 2: No. 41
- Round 3: No. 74, No. 97 (from Texans)
- Round 4: No. 115
- Round 6: No. 187 (from Cardinals)
- Round 7: No. 244 (from Packers)
The Browns sent their fifth and sixth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in a trade for guard Wyatt Teller. They sent their seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans in a trade for wide receiver Taywan Taylor.
What the Browns need
Under Berry and new head coach Kevin Stefanski’s leadership, the Browns took full advantage of free agency, adding depth in much-needed areas with the addition of safeties Karl Joseph and Andrew Sendejo, defensive end Adrian Clayborn, defensive tackle Andrew Billings, tight end Austin Hooper, return specialist JoJo Natson, quarterback Case Keenum, right tackle Jack Conklin and linebacker B.J. Goodson.
With a glaring hole in the position since Pro Bowler Joe Thomas retired in 2018, the Browns are likely to draft a left tackle with their first pick this year. The 2020 NFL Draft class is loaded with talent where the Browns need it most, including talents such as Tristan Wirfs, Jedrick Wills, Mekhi Becton, Andrew Thomas, Josh Jones and Ezra Cleveland.
If the Browns opt to trade up, or fate finds linebacker Isaiah Simmons around when the Browns select at 10, the team might wait until their second pick to address left tackle. With a talent like Simmons, a highly versatile, athletic player who generates success all over the field, it would be crazy for the Browns to pass him up if he fell into their hands.
Although they added some depth to their safety room, the Browns will still need to make drafting a safety a priority somewhere in the draft. Depending on who is available when the Browns are on the clock, Xavier McKinney, Jeremy Chinn, Grant Delphit, Kyle Dugger and Antoine Winfield Jr. are all names to watch. Drafting a wide receiver wouldn’t hurt, either. Obviously, the Browns have their stars in Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr., but with the contract of Rashard Higgins still undecided, the receiver room in Berea is thin.
Who will be announcing the Browns first-round pick
In a very special virtual announcement, a 12-year-old named Fletcher will do the honors for the Browns.
Fletcher, a patient at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, is from the Cleveland area, and he and his family are lifelong Cleveland Browns fans. Fletcher was diagnosed in 2019 with a very rare brain cancer. He was immediately sent to St. Jude, where he underwent surgery to remove the tumor. As of March, Fletcher has completed all of his follow-up proton therapy and chemotherapy treatments, according to the hospital.
How the Browns have fared at No. 10 in the draft
Cleveland has not held the No. 10 draft pick in a draft since 1961 and has only held it twice overall, selecting tight end Bobby Crespino in 1961 and defensive back Bert Rechichar.
How the league has fared at No. 10 in the draft
Some incredible talent has emerged from the No. 10 pick in the NFL Draft. Here are the players who have been taken with the No. 10 pick over the past 10 years.
- 2019- LB Devin Bush
- 2018- QB Josh Rosen
- 2017- QB Patrick Mahomes
- 2016- CB Eli Apple
- 2015- RB Todd Gurley
- 2014- TE Eric Ebron
- 2013- G Chance Warmack
- 2012- DB Stephon Gilmore
- 2011- QB Blaine Gabbert
- 2010-DT Tyson Aluala
Browns notable first-round picks
Cleveland has drafted plenty of talent with the first-round picks they’ve held over the years. Here is a list of the most notable names.
- Baker Mayfield- No. 1
- Myles Garrett- No. 1
- Denzel Ward- No. 4
- Jabrill Peppers- No. 25
- David Njoku- No. 29
- Johnny Manziel- No. 22
- Barkevious Mingo- No. 6
- Joe Haden- No. 7
- Braylon Edwards- No. 3
- Alex Mack- No. 21
- Tim Couch- No. 1
- Eric Metcalf- No. 13
- Hanford Dixon- No. 22
- Ozzie Newsome- No. 23
- Joe Thomas- No. 3
Some are notable for their talent, others for their labels as draft busts.
How the draft will be conducted
For the first time ever, the NFL Draft will be held entirely virtually as a safety measure amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Club personnel will communicate online or over the phone.
Each team has a 10-minute time limit per selection in the first round, a seven-minute time limit in the second round, a five-minute time limit in the Rounds 3-6 and four minutes for selections in the seventh round and all compensatory selections.
How to watch
The 2020 NFL Draft kicks off with the first round on Thursday at 8 p.m. The second and third rounds of the draft air Friday beginning at 7 p.m. The final four rounds will air Saturday beginning at 12 p.m.
You can watch the 2020 NFL Draft on News 5, beginning with our draft special tonight at 7 p.m.
For more information on viewing the NFL Draft and News 5 specials, click here.
