Round 7, No. 243: Browns draft Cincinnati DT Jowon Briggs (2024)

Three days and 257 picks later, the 2024 NFL Draft is over.

From No. 1 (Bears quarterback Caleb Williams) to No. 257 (Jets safety Jaylen Key), you can catch up on all of the action here, with news, analysis and reaction from The Athletic's NFL staff.

View every selection in our pick-by-pick tracker.

Required reading

• 2024 NFL Draft by the numbers
• Best undrafted free agents

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The Cleveland Browns selected Cincinnati defensive tackle Jowon Briggs with the 243rd pick.

The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Briggs: Briggs, one of six children, grew up in Cincinnati and earned All-State honors at Walnut Hills. A four-star prospect, he was a top-100 recruit and the No. 2 player in Ohio, but he passed on Alabama and Ohio State to sign with Virginia. During the pandemic, he transferred back home and signed with Cincinnati. After playing three-technique in 2021 and nose in 2022, he shifted to more of a 4/4i role over the tackle in 2023. Briggs and his wife (Nyjae) have three children.

A member of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List,” Briggs is compactly built with very dense muscle and terrific strength. With his initial step and active, heavy hands, he should appeal to multiple schemes, although can lose his gap control/leverage. Overall, Briggs lacks ideal length, and his rush talent is a work in progress, but his mix of one-gap quickness and power could earn him a depth spot.

The Tennessee Titans selected Miami safety James Williams with the 242nd pick.

The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Williams: A three-year starter at Miami, Williams played a Rover safety position in defensive coordinator Lance Guidry’s scheme. One of the highest-ranked recruits out of high school three years ago, he played multiple hybrid roles for the Hurricanes over the years and showed steady improvement each season. With his long, stretched-out frame, Williams has the versatility to cover and be a force player versus the run. However, his game lacks discipline and polish, and he is often caught overrunning responsibilities, against both run and pass.

Overall, Williams is more of a tweener athlete than a seasoned football player, but he is a full-throttle enforcer with a unique skill set that will intrigue several NFL defensive coordinators. He projects best in a Robber/Cover-3 scheme and offers versatility in subpackages to blitz or match tight ends.

The Miami Dolphins selected USC wide receiver Tahj Washington with the 241st pick.

The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Washington: A three-year starter at USC, Washington was a slot receiver in head coach Lincoln Riley’s RPO, spread scheme with heavy motions. Despite playing for four different head coaches in his five college seasons, Washington was productive when on the field, including a career year as a senior in 2023 (led the Trojans in catches, receiving yards, first-down grabs and contested catches). A fluid athlete,

Washington is determined and urgent as a route runner with small but strong hands and nifty after-the-catch ability. He knows how to beat press and separate at the stem, although NFL length and physicality will raise the level of difficulty for him.

Overall, Washington’s size will immediately turnoff some teams, but his competitive focus and playmaking instincts are the “make-it” qualities evaluators desire at the receiver position. He will push for slot and special-teams snaps during his rookie season.

The Carolina Panthers selected Michigan linebacker Michael Barrett with the 240th pick.

The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Barrett: A two-year starter at Michigan, Barrett played the Will linebacker spot in former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s 4-2-5 scheme. After seeing time on offense his first few years in Ann Arbor, he moved to defense full-time and later became a key starter on the Wolverines’ 2023 national championship-winning team, becoming the all-time winningest player in school history (Michigan went 61-14 over his six-year stint in the program).

Although he will get stuck on blocks when engulfed, Barrett plays surprisingly well through contact and is a powerful strike-through tackler. He is an outstanding blitzer and can survive as a hook/curl dropper in coverage, but he will struggle to match in man coverage in the NFL.

Overall, Barrett doesn’t have the size teams desire in base and lacks playmaking reaction time, but he plays fast and physically with a forceful demeanor. He is a bargain bin version of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Nick Bolton and has the talent to earn a role on special teams.

The New Orleans Saints selected Eastern Kentucky offensive tackle Josiah Ezirim with the 239th pick.

The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Ezirim: A two-year starter at Eastern Kentucky, Ezirim lined up at right tackle in the Colonels’ inside/outside zone-run scheme. A defensive lineman only in high school, he moved to the offensive line midway through his college career and showed gradual improvement the last two seasons in the FCS, while also holding his own against the FBS opponents (Cincinnati, Kentucky) on Eastern Kentucky’s schedule.

With his exceptional length and initial movements, Ezirim is ideally suited for a zone-blocking scheme and didn’t give up a sack in 2023. However, he is still very new to the offensive line, and it shows — his blocking awareness is undeveloped, his pass-set technique is raw, and his lateral control must improve.

Overall, Ezirim has athletic tools and outstanding size but is inexperienced and will need time with a patient coaching staff that can continue developing his talent and building his confidence on the offensive line. He is a draft-and-stash prospect with developmental traits.

The Houston Texans selected USC edge rusher Solomon Byrd with the 238th pick.

The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Byrd: A two-year starter at USC, Byrd was an edge rusher (two- and three-point stances) in former defensive coordinator Alex Grinch’s hybrid front. After putting himself on the NFL radar at Wyoming, he transferred to the Trojans in 2022 and had his best season in 2023 with a team-high 41 pressures.

As a pass rusher, he plays fast out of the blocks, with the body twitch to maneuver through gaps. He lacks tempo in his rush attack, though, which disrupts his ability to finish in the backfield. His Tasmanian Devil-like play style is both a good and bad quality. The main concern comes in the run game, where he is inconsistent at the point of attack, and his outside shoulder can be covered up too easily in his contain attempts.

Overall, Byrd has NFL-worthy flashes, because of his length and always-revving motor, but his consistency — especially as a run defender — must improve for him to make it in the NFL. He projects as a development prospect and a likely candidate for the practice squad.

The betting public has now had a couple of days to weigh in with their wagers regarding who is going to win the 2024 AP Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards.

Here is the list of the top 10 players on the offensive list, with odds courtesy BetMGM.

Caleb Williams +200

Marvin Harrison Jr. +600

J.J. McCarthy +850

Jayden Daniels +900

Malik Nabers +1100

Xavier Worthy +1600

Rome Odunze +1800

Drake Maye +2000

Brian Thomas Jr. +2500

Bo Nix +2500

And here are the top 10 defensive players.

Dallas Turner +500

Laiatu Latu +750

Jared Verse +800

Quinyon Mitchell +900

Terrion Arnold +1000

Byron Murphy +1300

Cooper DeJean +1300

Chop Robinson +2000

Kool-Aid McKinstry +2500

Nate Wiggins +2500

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Miami center Matt Lee with the 237th pick.

The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Lee: A one-year starter at Miami, Lee was the starting center in offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s balanced run scheme. He outplayed his recruiting rankings during his four years at UCF and put together his best season after joining the Hurricanes in 2023, earning second team All-ACC honors. In pass protection Lee was a boring study — and I mean that as a compliment, because he rarely allowed any pressures, thanks to his setup, mirror quickness and clamp-down hands. Though he can create stalemates in the run game, he isn’t a powerful drive blocker and will struggle to shield lanes at times.

Overall, Lee doesn’t have the power desired by most schemes, but he can handle surface blocks in the run game while staying stout in pass pro, thanks to his quickness and technique. In the right situation, he can secure a backup role and compete for NFL playing time.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Texas Tech edge rusher Myles Cole with the 236th pick.

The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Cole: A one-year starter at Texas Tech, Cole played field-side edge rusher in defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter’s 3-3-5 base scheme, standing up in odd fronts and with a hand on the ground 4i in even fronts. After playing inside as a defensive tackle in 2022, he moved to the edge and filled the void left by Tyree Wilson in 2023 with career highs (32 tackles and 3.5 sacks), although he sputtered down the stretch (most of his production came in the first half of the season).

With his long strides, Cole can tilt the field and build his speed to cave in the pocket or attack the shoulders of blockers. However, he lacks move-to-move transitions, and his radar in the run game is underdeveloped.

Overall, Cole is a persistent power rusher with leg drive and elite length, although his immature instincts (rushing the passer and setting the edge) will make him a project in the NFL. His tools are more interesting than his playmaking talent, but he still has room to develop and can give a defense quality snaps as a three-technique or on the edge.

The Denver Broncos selected Utah wide receiver Devaughn Vele with the 235th pick.

The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Vele: A three-year starter at Utah, Vele worked primarily as the Z receiver in offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig’s scheme and saw snaps bot h inside and outside. After originally serving a church mission out of high school, he walked on with the Utes and grew into the team’s top receiving option.

Vele is an older prospect, and with that comes a player who has a better understanding of releases and routes, although he needs improved tempo to mix things up. He tends to rely on his body too much to finish throws at him, but he also puts his long arms to good use and shows an expanded catch radius downfield.

Overall, Vele will have trouble creating quick pockets of separation versus NFL coverage, but he can stretch the field vertically and has rangy ball skills that won’t force the quarterback to be pinpoint accurate. He is a potential WR4/5 and adds some return ability.

The Dallas Cowboys selected Louisiana offensive tackle Nathan Thomas with the 233rd pick.

The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Thomas: A two-year starter at Louisiana, Thomas lined up at left tackle in offensive coordinator Tim Leger’s zone-heavy run scheme. A blocking tight end in high school, he transitioned to offensive tackle for the Ragin’ Cajuns and started the past two seasons at left tackle, including a standout senior year that boosted his draft grade.

Although his feet tend to get loud in pass protection, Thomas moves well laterally and has the body quickness to reach and cut off defenders. Despite several undisciplined habits that need to be addressed, he strikes with a mauling attitude and appears to genuinely enjoy the physicality of the position.

Overall, Thomas has sloppy tendencies and needs to stay off the ground, but he is a smooth mover with strong mitts that help him batter and sustain (when they are well placed). His raw power might be accentuated best at guard in the NFL.

The Minnesota Vikings selected Texas A&M Commerce defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez with the No. 232 pick.

The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Rodriguez: As a three-technique, Rodriguez’s game is built on quickness and a relentless, violent temperament. His hands are underdeveloped, but he throws them around (crosschops, double swipes) to gain his freedom. He needs technical refinement to maximize leverage points and control gaps in the run game. Overall, Rodriguez is still in the development process and doesn’t have elite length or strength, but his athletic urgency and promising hand use give blockers all they can handle.

The New England Patriots selected Florida State tight end Jaheim Bell with the 231st pick.

The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Bell: A one-year starter at Florida State, Bell was a versatile tight end in head coach Mike Norvell’s up-tempo scheme (44.3 percent of his snaps came in the slot, 43.0 percent inline and 10.4 percent out wide). After three seasons with South Carolina, he transferred to Tallahassee, where he set career bests in catches and receiving yards (one of 12 FBS tight ends in 2023 with 35-plus catches and 500-plus receiving yards).

As a receiving option, Bell is a good-sized athlete who can push through physical coverage and be an effective catch-and-run option. He struggles to sustain as a blocker, but he efficiently fits up his target to wall off in the run game or lose slowly once engaged in pass pro.

Overall, Bell isn’t a dynamic weapon, but he has pass-catching talent, and NFL teams will like his contact balance and competitive chops as a blocker, receiver and after the catch. A similar player to the Houston Texans’ Brevin Jordan, he can earn a No. 2 tight end role.

The Minnesota Vikings selected Wake Forest center Michael Jurgens with the 230th pick. The Athletic's Dane Brugler ranked Jurgens as the No. 19 center in this year's class.

The Las Vegas Raiders selected Pittsburgh cornerback M.J. Devonshire with the 229th pick.

The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Devonshire: A two-year starter at Pittsburgh, Devonshire was a perimeter cornerback in head coach Pat Narduzzi’s zone-heavy scheme (72.7 percent of Devonshire’s 2023 defensive snaps came in zone coverage). After transferring back home from Kentucky in 2021, he followed in the footsteps of his childhood hero and fellow Aliquippa alum Darrelle Revis as a playmaker on both defense and special teams (first Aliquippa player since Revis in 2006 to score on a punt return and interception return in the same season).

In off coverage, Devonshire can read through the route to the quarterback or stay in the pocket of receivers in man-to-man, using his long arms to challenge throws in his air space. However, his inconsistent anticipation and lack of disciplined technique will make it tough for him to stay in phase versus savvy route runners.

Overall, Devonshire is more of an aggressive athlete than true instinctive ballhawk, but his linear burst, speed and length help him make plays in coverage. He is a developmental player with the tools to play man, zone and special teams.

The Baltimore Ravens selected Michigan State center Nick Samac with the 228th pick.

The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Samac: After three seasons as an off-and-on starter, he was the full-time starting center his final two seasons. He suffered a fractured left fibula late in his final season, which sidelined him for the draft process. Samac is quick with his snap and step, and he has the play strength and controlled finish to steer as a run blocker. He shows flexibility in pass pro, but NFL power will bully him, especially when it reaches his edge.

Overall, Samac is well-schooled in the run game, hitting his landmarks and fitting with his hands, but his consistency as a pass blocker must catch up for him to stick.

The Cleveland Browns selected South Dakota cornerback Myles Harden with the 227th pick.

The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Harden: A four-year starter at South Dakota, Harden was an outside cornerback in defensive coordinator Travis Johansen’s zone-heavy scheme. Although his college career was marred by back-to-back season-ending injuries in 2021 and 2022, he was a starter the moment he arrived and was consistently productive when on the field (forced eight turnovers in his final 19 games). Harden is a smooth athlete with the physical mentality that shows at the catch point and in run support. He has the mentality for press man, but NFL athletes will present a substantial leap in what he saw over his career in the FCS.

Overall, Harden doesn’t offer ideal length or long speed, but he plays quick, confident and is a roughneck competitor in both coverage and run support. With NFL-quality fluidity and ball skills, he can handle coverage duties from multiple techniques (inside or outside) and has the traits to earn a starting nickel job as a rookie.