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Hey Jimmy: Answering your pre-draft Cleveland Browns questions with Jim Donovan

For the second time in four years, Cleveland will not have a first-round pick in this week's NFL draft.

CLEVELAND — The NFL draft has just about arrived, and for the second time in four years, the Browns will not have a first-round pick.

In fact, Cleveland has given up its No. 1 selections for the next three years as part of the trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson. The team won't be on the clock until No. 44 overall in the second round, but even though Thursday will likely be silent, there are still several big questions surrounding the organizations.

RELATED: More Browns coverage from WKYC

In that vein, "Voice of the Browns" Jim Donovan decided to answer some of your pre-draft Browns questions with his regular segment "Hey Jimmy!" Here's a bit of what he had to say:

Hey Jimmy!: "Why has it been so difficult for the Browns to find a decent placekicker? Do you think they should draft one?" - Kevin in Canton

Hey Kevin: Boy, it's been a long time since we've had Phil Dawson, right? We really took him for granted, and through all of those years, he was our only offense many Sundays.

It has been tough for the Browns to find that kicker, and Chase McLaughlin's coming back, but he had a spotty year (definitely kind of a bad finish). And remember, they cut Cody Parkey loose.

I do believe they should draft a kicker, and there are a couple I want to mention, including a kid from our area. Gabe Brkic, from Chardon, went to high school at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin and kicked at Oklahoma, and I think he would probably be on the Browns' radar because he's got a great leg.

Credit: Steve Luciano/AP
Oklahoma kicker Gabe Brkic (2) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 6, 2022.

The other kicker would be Cade York coming out of LSU, and I think the Browns could look at either of them (or others) and it could be very real. Remember, the Bengals had a young kicker last year who they drafted, and he kicked them right through the playoffs and into the Super Bowl. It is not far-fetched to do it, and if you're going to be in big games and close games, you need a great kicker, and there are some coming out of the college ranks.

Hey Jimmy!: "What are your top concerns heading into the Browns' draft and the upcoming season?" - Pete in Cleveland

Hey Pete: No. 1: wide receiver, and I think the Browns go plural on this. I think they need a young wide receiver from this weekend in the draft, and I think they need a veteran wide receiver.

Remember, the numbers are down: no Jarvis Landry, no OBJ, no Rashard Higgins, and some younger names remaining. You still have to throw the ball a lot, even with that great running game.

Hey Jimmy!: "When will Baker Mayfield be traded, and what will the Browns get in return for him?" - John in Akron

Hey John: I would hope, and so would Baker, that he gets traded this weekend -- maybe Friday.

Carolina seems to be the swing team right now. They have the No. 6 pick Thursday night, and if they take a quarterback there, then I don't think Baker's in their plans. If they don't, maybe they are going to take a look and try to get a deal done with the Browns.

Seattle would be the other team. What would the Browns get in return? I don't think too much, honestly, because the teams know that the Browns are in a situation where they really have to trade Baker Mayfield and try to get that contract off their books. If they get a deal done, they're probably going to have to eat some of that $18.86 million they owe him this year.

It's going to be a hard pill to swallow, but I think it's good for everyone if this deal gets done this weekend or any day after that. Let's get some finality to it.

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