Cleveland Browns rookie minicamp: Nathaniel Watson, Myles Harden among those to watch

The spotlight shines on the Cleveland Browns' rookie class starting Friday with the three-day rookie minicamp in Berea.

The six draft picks, led by the Browns' two day-two draft picks — second-round defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. out of Ohio State and third-round offensive guard Zak Zinter out of Michigan — will be the primary focus. Some of the attention, though, will also shift to the group of undrafted free agents the Browns signed after the draft.

What follows is a look at three players in particular who figure to draw some extra attention for one reason or another. Surprisingly, though, none of them are among the Browns' top two picks.

Nathaniel Watson, LB, Mississippi State, sixth-round pick

Watson is an intriguing rookie based on an incredibly productive final two seasons at Mississippi State. He also plays a position — linebacker — where the pathway exists to some early playing time in a reserve role. There's also the special-teams angle, where Watson would appear to be an ideal candidate to get reps. Of course, that's just a projection at this point. This weekend gives him a chance to put performance alongside projection.

Myles Harden, CB, South Dakota, seventh-round pick

Harden's injury history and his FCS Division I college background make him a prospect who will be fascinating to watch adjust to the NFL level. The injuries may have prevented Harden from going a round or two earlier because they cost him valuable games to build on what was still an impressive four-year career at South Dakota. Although he had solid performances against the FBS-level competition he saw in college — Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri most notably — no doubt the jump to this level will be a big one. This weekend provides him a chance to start to show that he can do so.

Jalen Sundell, OL, North Dakota State, undrafted free agent

The lone offensive player is an fascinating one because he's not one of the six draft picks, but he's one of the undrafted free agents the Browns signed shortly after the draft. Sundell shares a couple of things in common with Harden in that both battled big injuries that prevented them from getting all of the reps they needed over their careers. In Sundell's case, it was a fractured foot that cost him 10 games in 2022. For a player who was moved to center for the first time in his career in spring 2021, those lost games may have been the difference in getting drafted and signing as a UDFA. Regardless, Sundell has a chance to play his way into a key reserve role on the interior of the Browns offensive line.

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns rookie minicamp: Draft picks, UDFAs to watch