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2022 NFL Mock Draft Round-Up 1.0: Cleveland Browns expected to take a wide receiver

Multiple mock drafts project the Cleveland Browns to select a wide receiver this spring.

CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from a previous story.

Falling well short of their lofty preseason expectations, the Cleveland Browns' 2021 season ended before the playoffs even started.

RELATED: More Cleveland Browns coverage from WKYC

But that only means that mock draft season is officially underway.

With the divisional round of the postseason approaching, multiple prognosticators have already released their first mock drafts since the 2021 regular season came to an end. And when it comes to the Browns, who lay claim to the No. 13 overall pick, there's a common trend in the predictions, with nearly every mock draft forecasting Cleveland to take a wide receiver in the first round.

Which receiver the Browns will take, however, varies by the mock draft. With that in mind, let's take a look at who Cleveland is currently projected to select, according to each expert.

Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN

The pick: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

The explanation: "This was a pretty easy pick for me, because the Browns should take the best receiver left on the board. If they really are committed to Baker Mayfield for 2022 (and beyond), they should get their quarterback some help, because this is now two straight seasons in which they've trotted out a subpar receiving corps for the second half of the season."

Dane Brugler, The Athletic

The pick: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

The explanation: "The Browns passing offense desperately needs another playmaker and Burks has the ability to create big plays. He has an outstanding blend of size (6-3, 228) and speed (4.45) with the tracking skills and catch radius to be a quarterback’s best friend."

Austin Gayle, Pro Football Focus

The pick: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

The explanation: Wilson has improved every season of his career at Ohio State and caught 70-of-102 targets for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns on his way to an 84.1 PFF grade in 2021. He’s a smooth route-runner with spectacular-catch ability and dynamism with and without the ball in his hands.

Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports

The pick: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

The explanation: "Burks is a horse in the open field due to his size and chiseled frame, rebounds it well down the field, and isn't a stiff route runner."

Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News

The pick: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

The explanation: "The Browns need to upgrade their receiving corps big-time with a true go-to guy outside all over the field. Luckily for Cleveland, there's a good answer in Columbus. Olave has great speed, quickness and burst to emerge as their new No. 1 for Baker Mayfield or whoever's the quarterback in 2022."

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