Browns Digest

Browns 3 Most Likely Trade-Up Candidates in the 2023 NFL Draft

The Cleveland Browns first selection in the 2023 NFL Draft isn't until pick 74. There's a chance that they could try and move up to take an impact defender and three players stand out as targets.

Matthew Wilson

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Andrew Berry has shown that when it comes to the NFL Draft, he likes to keep a few surprises up his sleeve. Cleveland needs to add quality players to the defense in order to try and improve what was one of the worst defenses in the NFL in 2022, so there's a chance that if a player that Berry likes starts dropping to pick 50 or later, he'll try to make a move to get them.

Here are the three players that Cleveland could be most interested in if they fall into their target trade-up range.

DE B.J. Ojulari, LSU - 6'2", 248 Lbs.

2022 Stats: 61 tackles, 8 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 43 QB pressures

PFF Grade: 76.3

B.J. Ojulari is one of the best pure pass rushers in the 2023 class. He's a finesse player that has the foot speed, awareness, and pass rush repertoire of a much more experienced player. His ability to swipe hands and keep himself clean both as a pass rusher and in the run game is uncanny. He has an incredible motor and is built for speed, with an unusually long and muscular body that has room to add weight if necessary. 

He knows how to develop a pass rush plan and execute that plan based on what his opponent does. Ojulari usually skips or hesitates in order to influence which way the opponent shifts their body weight, and then utilizes an extensive array of moves to take advantage of this. For example, if Ojulari skips inside at the snap, he'll force the offensive tackle to flatten out his pass set and step inside. Once this happens, Ojulari will dip and rip through the outside arm of the tackle and then use his closing speed to terrorize the quarterback.

Why would Cleveland trade up for him?

The Browns are still in the hunt for a third quality edge rusher that can provide meaningful reps while rotating in with Myles Garrett and Ogbo Okoronkwo. Ojulari would be the perfect player to go after for this role. 

Not only would he be able to provide excellent depth, but he would give Cleveland the freedom to use different personnel packages more often. A 3rd down package of Okoronkwo and Ojulari at defensive end with Myles Garrett and Alex Wright inside at defensive tackle would be deadly.

If Ojulari starts to drop because of his recent hamstring injury, Cleveland would most likely look to move up for him. He's actually one of the players that the Browns could trade up for even before the pick 50 threshold.

DE Tuli Tuipulotu, USC - 6'3", 266 Lbs.

2022 Stats: 48 tackles, 22 TFL, 13.5 sacks, 48 QB pressures

PFF Grade: 82.1

Tuipulotu has been an absolute monster on the defensive line for USC over the past two years. He's accrued a combined 68 QB pressures and 19 sacks since the 2021 season. He didn't participate in any athletic testing throughout the pre-draft process, but he's an incredibly gifted athlete with above average strength and power. He has a solid, thick build in both his upper and lower body. 

He played everywhere on the defensive line during his time at USC, including dropping back into coverage as a SAM linebacker, and was effective in those spots. Tuipulotu rushes the passer with a lot of violence and power. He's the type of guy that runs through offensive lineman instead of around them. His strength on the edge is what sets him apart from most of the defensive ends in this class. He constantly throws offensive lineman around like they're 200 lbs.

He's a dominant force against both the run and pass, and provides the elite versatility that NFL defensive coordinators salivate over.

Why would Cleveland trade up for him?

Tuipulotu is the type of versatile player that Jim Schwartz would love to add to this defensive line room. He has the ability to play strongside DE in the team's base defense, with the ability to wreak havoc on the inside at 3-technique on obvious pass situations.

Tuipulotu lining up in a wide-9 and exploding off the edge with that much mass and power would be a nightmare for offensive tackles.

LB Jack Campbell, Iowa - 6'5", 249 Lbs.

2022 Stats: 127 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 interceptions

PFF Grade: 91.9

Campbell is a rare athlete with great length at the MIKE linebacker position. He has all the traits and sideline-to-sideline range that you want in the middle of your defense. He's an extremely competitive player that always manages to be around the ball in every phase.

He has great play recognition and does a good job of exploding into gaps when filling run lanes in order to spill the action outside, which is what Iowa's defense wanted to do. Despite his size, he's able to get skinny and scrape off the hips of defensive linemen in order to avoid blockers when run-blitzing. Campbell is also able to stack and shed blocks easily in the open field. 

One of his best qualities is his ability to navigate and successfully sift through congestion at the line of scrimmage. He does a great job of staying in control and showing great balance when it comes to chasing down ballcarriers to ensure that he doesn't overpursue and take himself out of the play. 

Why would Cleveland trade up for him?

The Browns have had issues with their linebacker core for a while now. If they can acquire a player like Campbell, he'll immediately upgrade the run defense and provide stability at the 2nd level throughout the foreseeable future. 

Jim Schwartz's defense is unique when it comes to stopping the run. By having his edge players line up as wide as they do, they're able to set the edge by alignment. This will naturally channel the action inside to the linebackers. Cleveland now has Dalvin Tomlinson and Co. to keep offensive lineman distracted, so Campbell would be able to move around freely to wreak havoc.

He's the exact type of sure-tackling, old school middle linebacker that you want runningbacks funneled to.

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Matthew Wilson
MATTHEW WILSON

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