Hot Takes, Predictions for Browns Rookies After 2023 NFL Draft

It took a while before the Cleveland Browns got into action during the 2023 NFL draft. They had no picks during the first round on Thursday, and they were inactive in the second round on Friday. Still, the Browns came away from Kansas City with seven new players.

Cleveland assembled a solid rookie class by picking all of its players between the third and sixth rounds. Its top two selections were Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (No. 74 overall in the third round) and Baylor defensive tackle Siaki Ika (No. 98 overall in the third round).

The Browns may not have any players who will be in the running for a Rookie of the Year Award in 2023, but some members of this incoming class could become contributors to the team. And several of them could quickly make an impact in Cleveland.

Here are some early hot takes and predictions for the Browns' 2023 rookie class.

Ika Will Become a Starter Before End of Season

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Baylor defensive lineman Siaki Ika runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Among Cleveland's biggest weaknesses during the 2022 season was the play of its interior defensive line. That was a unit needing to be bolstered heading into the offseason, and the Browns did so by signing Dalvin Tomlinson to a four-year, $57 million contract.

But there are two starting defensive tackles in Cleveland's 4-3 scheme. While Tomlinson will surely be one of them, the other spot could be up for grabs. Jordan Elliott is an early front-runner for the job, considering he started all 17 games for the Browns last season.

It's quite possible, though, that Elliott won't hold onto that spot for the entire 2023 campaign; Ika has the potential to push him out of that role. The 22-year-old made the All-Big 12 first team in each of his final two seasons at Baylor, recording 48 tackles and 3.5 sacks over 24 games after spending the first two years of his collegiate career at LSU.

Ika may not put up large sack totals, but he's a big body (6'3" and 335 pounds) who can plug holes up the middle. He's exactly the type of player the Browns needed to help fill one of their biggest weaknesses from last year.

Tillman Will Rank Third on Team in Receiving TDs

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 04: Cedric Tillman of Tennessee participates in a drill during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 04, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Amari Cooper will again be Cleveland's No. 1 wide receiver in 2023, and he should rank first on the team in most receiving stat categories. Beyond him, the depth chart will include Donovan Peoples-Jones, Elijah Moore, Marquise Goodwin and more.

Tillman should also be a factor in the passing attack after the Browns used their top draft pick on him. The former Tennessee playmaker had an impressive 2021 junior campaign for the Vols, recording 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games. He was less effective in 2022, finishing with 417 yards and three TDs in six games, missing time with an ankle injury.

Cleveland needed to get bigger in its receiving corps, and the 6'3" Tillman helped it do so. He'll be a good target for quarterback Deshaun Watson and could be a good receiver to get the ball thrown to him in goal-line situations.

Because of that, don't be surprised if Tillman gets into the end zone a decent amount as a rookie. He won't overtake Cooper, or even be the No. 2 scorer, but it's reasonable to think Tillman could rank third on the team in receiving touchdowns.

McGuire Will Carve out Role, Notch Four Sacks

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 02: Defensive lineman Isaiah Mcguire of Missouri participates in a drill during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 02, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

As long as Myles Garrett remains on the Browns' roster, he's going to lead the team in sacks. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo should also rack some up after he signed a three-year, $19 million deal with Cleveland this offseason.

But it's always important to have depth on the pass rush, as teams often rotate in defensive linemen to keep them fresh. That's why Isaiah McGuire has the potential to be an impactful rookie for the Browns in 2023.

McGuire, who was selected by Cleveland with the No. 126 overall pick in the fourth round, continually improved over his four-year career at Missouri. During his 2022 senior season, he had 40 tackles (14 for a loss) and 8.5 sacks in 12 games.

While McGuire isn't likely to have that many sacks in his first year in the NFL, he could get close to a handful, especially as he starts to earn more playing time as the season progresses. The prediction here is that he'll become a contributor in the second half and end up with four sacks in his rookie campaign.