All the latest news, rumors, and nuggets you need to know on Day 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft for the Cleveland Browns.
The 2022 NFL Draft officially begins for the Cleveland Browns and the rest of the teams in the NFL tonight at 8:00 PM ET. Unfortunately, the Browns don’t have any Day 1 picks and appear unlikely to have the assets to move up into the first round, but we’ll still enjoy the festivities and rumors throughout the day.
We will have all of your Browns-related coverage on the draft here at Dawgs By Nature throughout the weekend. This thread will act as a “live blog,” with updates about the latest small rumors, picks, or trades involving Cleveland or other NFL teams. You should also use the comments section as your NFL Draft open thread! (Newest updates will be at the top of the live blog below)
Browns NFL Draft Live Blog
12:30 PM: Tonight is shaping up to be just the fifth time since 2007 that the No. 1 overall selection is not a quarterback, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The last two non-quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall were current Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett in 2017 and (hopefully) soon-once-again Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney in 2014.
This will be the fifth time in the past 16 drafts that a QB doesn’t go No. 1 overall. The others: Myles Garrett to the Browns in 2017, Jadeveon Clowney to the Texans in 2014, Eric Fisher to the Chiefs in 2013 and Jake Long to the Dolphins in 2008. Now a non-QB to the Jags at 1.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 28, 2022
11:55 AM: Here is a really neat touch from a night time shot: a light show against the Bellagio fountains:
#Browns were well represented at the NFL Fountain Projection Show at The Fountains of Bellagio. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/sfP3NgKEbH
— Brad Stainbrook (@StainbrookNFL) April 28, 2022
11:34 AM: We have an NFL Reacts update for everyone, related to the NFL Draft. Fans were asked which position group Andrew Berry and company should address first.
Obviously this is a Day 2 question, as things stand right now, but the defensive line category received the most votes at 40%. That was followed up by wide receiver (28%), offensive line (20%), and linebacker (12%). I would agree with the defensive line being the top position to address, particularly the defensive tackle position. Cleveland also has a question mark at the other defensive end position, since Jadeveon Clowney returning is not a guarantee.
11:20 AM: There is nothing fresh to report today on Baker Mayfield rumors, but it’s probably the top Browns’ story to keep an eye on for Day 1. The latest was that as a few days ago, the Browns could try to leverage the draft as the time to maximize their opportunity to trade Mayfield, considering this is a weak quarterback class. The Seahawks continue to be the team most often mentioned regarding their interest in him.
I keep hearing from people inside the #NFL that Baker Mayfield is the best available QB this weekend.
Will be fascinating to see how that impacts the board, and if the #Browns are able to drum up any sort of leverage to make a trade possible.
— Matt Lombardo (@MattLombardoNFL) April 26, 2022
11:08 AM: Thanks to everyone who took part in the DBN Community Mock Draft this year, with some even pulling double and triple duty! We finished the first round the other day, but we just posted the Browns’ mocked picks in rounds 2-3 here.
9:35 AM: Here is your final DBN Big Board (40 players) for the Cleveland Browns, as voted on by the community.
8:42 AM: Here is some more on the design of the playing cards, which look great. The picture on the left is a montage of the cards on a fence covering, while the right side has the cards in the hallway that draft picks will walk when called to the stage. I saw other pictures indicating that there were decks of cards people could buy with these logos.
I haven’t caught a glimpse of an in-person picture of a Browns card yet, but the team’s Twitter account highlighted Cleveland’s hot design yesterday:
Upgrade your lock screen and go full draft mode for #WallpaperWednesday pic.twitter.com/Iig8WOJS6p
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 27, 2022
8:35 AM: Sadly, I have not seen the big NFL Draft helmets anywhere yet, which are always such a great photo opportunity in any city. We’ll see if they are tucked away in some type of conference center that hasn’t been unveiled yet. As far as your other annual NFL helmet decorations, here is “The Gallery.”
Quite the scene inside “The Gallery”
Jerseys & helmets on display next to all 53 Super Bowl rings & Vince Lombardi Trophies #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/hk2E6ivLF3
— Shannon Kelly (@shannonkelly_tv) April 28, 2022
8:28 AM: The draft theater, which is the big thing that was set up on Cleveland’s lakefront last year, is going to be behind the High Roller Ferris Wheel next to the Linq. If you were to look the opposite direction of the picture below (facing away from the stage), you would see the big wheel.
Cleveland went with unique music albums for each NFL team in the spirit of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year, but Vegas is going with playing cards.
Here is a full map of the draft theater area:
8:10 AM: Good morning, Browns fans, and welcome to our annual 2022 NFL Draft live blog! This year’s draft is a lot different than the 2021 NFL Draft, when the city of Cleveland got to host the draft and I took part in a lot of video coverage around the city. This year, the draft is in Las Vegas — I would have loved to have flown out and enjoyed the weekend there, but for personal reasons I was unable to.
Our first couple of posts in today’s live blog will focus on the scene in Vegas, starting with the red carpet draft stage, which was indeed constructed on the water of the Bellagio fountains:
Truly incredible. Construction started about two weeks ago with 6 scuba divers & 200 workers to bring this stage to life #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/zRcrULPHGm
— Shannon Kelly (@shannonkelly_tv) April 26, 2022