BEREA, Ohio (AP) – The Browns finally drafted a wide receiver, but ignored a quarterback.
On the final day of the NFL draft Saturday, the Browns stuck with their plan to build from within and added seven more players. And for the first time in two seasons, general manager Ray Farmer took a wide receiver, selecting Washington State’s Vince Mayle in the fourth round.
Farmer made 12 picks overall — five on offense, seven on defense — to bolster a team that was 7-4 last season before losing its final five games.
The Browns played it safe in this year’s draft after making a splash in 2014, when they made three trades in the first round and moved up to take quarterback Johnny Manziel.
Although there was an expectation Farmer would look for a young QB to groom, he avoided a position that has perplexed the Browns for years. Cleveland has had 22 starting quarterbacks since 1999.
Cleveland traded down in the second round before selecting Utah defensive end Nate Orchard with the No. 51 overall pick in the NFL draft on Friday night.
Orchard led the nation with 18 1/2 sacks last season and will play outside linebacker in Cleveland’s 3-4 defensive scheme.
The Browns made a trade to move back into the third round and selected Washington State defensive tackle Xavier Cooper.
The Browns lost one of their best edge rushers during the offseason when Jabaal Sheard signed as a free agent with New England.
Cooper can play tackle or defensive end, and he gives the Browns added depth up front. Cleveland’s defensive line was decimated by injuries last season, contributing to the Browns having the NFL’s worst rushing defense.
Ignoring playmakers in the first two rounds, Cleveland selected Miami running back Duke Johnson with the No. 77 pick in the NFL draft on Friday night. Johnson gained 1.652 yards last season, finishing as the leading rusher in school history with 3,519 yards in just three seasons.
They Browns used their first pick — No. 12 overall — to take Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton Thursday night.