Trading for Kenny Pickett means the Browns could focus on taking the best player available at No. 2 before picking up another quarterback later in the draft. The extension of Myles Garrett does not mean Cleveland will pass on Carter, whose elite talent on the edge would only make the perennial All-Pro better.

I don't know how good the Browns will be next season -- probably not very -- but combining Abdul Carter with Myles Garrett would guarantee the losses won't be on the defense. If Ward goes first, it wouldn't shock me to see Cleveland move down, either. It'll receive plenty of calls for Carter or possibly Shedeur Sanders.

The Browns could certainly use a young quarterback to groom, and get out of the ditch they've dug themselves faster, but with Cam Ward off the board they'll default to the best player in the draft. Hunter is a legitimate top prospect at either cornerback or wide receiver, so here the Browns take him as they continue to take their medicine with the Deshaun Watson contract.

Day 1 grade: D
Day 2 grade: A-
Day 3 grade: A-

Analysis: The Browns' 2022 trade for Deshaun Watson is still very much a work in progress; the QB's performance thus far has not provided the team with much of a return on the raft of picks shipped to Houston, including first- and fourth-round picks this year. Hall and Zinter stay in Big Ten Country, with the former Buckeye looking to wreak havoc on the defensive line and Zinter likely to bounce back from injury to be a long-term starter.

Cleveland did not have many Day 3 picks because of past trades, including one this offseason for receiver Jerry Jeudy. Thrash could work himself into the role of a fourth or fifth receiver because of his speed. Nathaniel Watson's ferocious nature meets a need in the middle of the team's defense late in the draft, and Harden was one of the steals of the seventh round because of his fierceness and athleticism.

Top needs entering the draft: Running back, wide receiver, defensive tackle

I'm usually a believer in taking the best prospect available -- within reason -- at most times. Don't reach for a need. But when a team doesn't have a first-round pick, it becomes necessary to make sure it gets a guy who can plug a hole at a priority position. I say all of this because there were several really good running backs and receivers available when the Browns drafted defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. (54). Looking at this roster, I would have gone a different direction.

Hall's tape at Ohio State was maddening at times because he didn't consistently produce. He went a little high based on my rankings. I did like the selection of guard Zak Zinter (85), who will add some youth to Cleveland's O-line. The Browns finally addressed the wide receiver position in Round 5 with Jamari Thrash (156), who had some issues with concentration drops but was productive in his lone season at Louisville. Nathaniel "Bookie" Watson (206) is a long-armed linebacker with the tenacity to make a team because of his special teams ability.

Cleveland didn't take a running back, so maybe Nick Chubb will be back healthy to start the season and things will be OK. I would have added some insurance, though, based on the depth of the class.