CLEVELAND — Cleveland shined for three days hosting the NFL draft. So did the Browns.
Riding the momentum from their first playoff appearance in nearly 20 years last season and a successful run through free agency this winter, the Browns added more defensive speed, versatility and depth.
They selected eight players, five of them on defense to continue an offseason overhaul on that side of the ball.
One of the five defensive players was Buckeye defensive tackle Tommy Togiai, who played in seven of the team’s eight games as a junior in 2020 and recorded 23 tackles, including 3 sacks in a win over Penn State.
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The second-round selection of Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was the one that most excited Cleveland’s coaches, who feel he’s an ideal fit for their scheme.
The Bengals focused on their lines during this year’s NFL draft.
If they got it right, Joe Burrow should enjoy much better protection in his second season.
Burrow, the top overall pick in 2020, had his rookie year cut short when his pocket collapsed on him during a Week 11 loss to Washington, resulting in a season-ending knee injury.
The Bengals continued to build around the quarterback in the draft, reuniting him with one of his favorite receivers at LSU and adding three more offensive linemen among their 10 picks.