The Cleveland Browns didn’t have a pick until the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. While they had to wait a long time to get on the clock, they made the most of their opportunities through Days 2 and 3.
There were a lot of people that liked what Cleveland did in the middle and late rounds of the draft. They added a lot of value to their roster, pinpointing some high-upside players that likely slipped further than many talent evaluators believed that they would.
One of the best picks that the Browns made was selecting Ohio State center Luke Wypler. Wypler was the second Ohio State lineman that the Browns were able to land on Day 3. They also selected tackle Dawand Jones whose stock plummeted because of poor interviews and how he handled the offseason circuit.
There were some evaluators that believed Wypler was going to be a Day 2 selection, so the Browns got excellent value landing him in the sixth round. Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports gave Cleveland an A- grade for the selection as he believes Wypler is a future starter in the NFL.
He won’t be tasked with starting right away as the Browns were able to bring back Ethan Pocic in free agency. Wypler does need some in the weight and power department, which he should gain plenty of working out at the next level.
If his development goes well, the Browns have a long-term starter at the center position. They can only hope Wypler can turn into the same player that his pro comp was, which was Creed Humphrey of the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Humphrey has quickly turned into a stalwart in the trenches for the Chiefs, starting every game from Day 1. He already has one Pro Bowl and All-Pro nomination under his belt after finishing third in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2021.
An offensive lineman, especially on the interior, even garnering attention for such an award goes to show how well Humphrey played. The Browns don’t need Wypler to step in from Day 1 and perform, but if he approaches the level of performance that Humphrey has provided the Chiefs, Wypler will be one of the biggest steals of the 2023 NFL Draft.
