The Browns started the draft with 2 picks in the first round, at #6 and #24, thanks to the trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season (Travis Hunter).
They also had 2 very glaring holes on their roster. Offensive tackle and wide receiver. The question was always, which order would they address them. Would it be WR/OT or OT/WR?
Amongst the draft analysts and pundits, it was split almost 50/50. The fans however, were overwhelming in favor of going WR with pick #6, and hoping that one of the OTs would fall to #24. The particular WR that most Browns fans wanted, was Carnell Tate, the wide receiver from Ohio State. They ended up doing what I was in favor of, and taking an OT first, then take a WR second.
They not only addressed their biggest needs in the first round, but 4 of their first 5 overall picks were either a WR or OT. They doubled up on TE with 2 of their final 3 picks, and took the most athletic quarterback in this class.
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Draft Picks.
- Pick 9: OT Spencer Fano, Utah Utes
My OL1 in this class.
Played LT his freshman year at Utah, before moving to RT.
Great footwork, and athletic ability to mirror defenders.
Doesn’t get beat very often with spin or swim moves.
Great use of his hands in pass protection.
Very strong and violent hands.
Great balance. His hips and feet stay centered, allowing him to absorb that initial contact from bull rushes.
Has the strength to move defenders in the run game, and get to the second level.
He finishes on every snap.
Does a great job of turning his hips, to allow a clear running lane for the running back in the B gap.
My grade – A+ - Pick 24: WR KC Concepion, Texas A&M Aggies
Arguably the most athletic receiver in this class.
Fast and great acceleration off the line of scrimmage.
Can make defenders miss with his jukes and spin moves.
Dynamic punt returner (see LSU game).
Absolutely TERRIBLE hands. Way too many drops. All the athletic ability in the world, don’t mean diddly squat, if you can’t consistently catch the football.
My grade – F - Pick 39: WR Denzel Boston, Washington Huskies
My WR2 in this class. Absolute steal at 39.
He’s a true big X receiver, at 6’4″ and 212 lbs.
Catches everything thrown his way.
2nd best route runner in this class. The way he snaps off his routes, creates the separation from CBs that he doesn’t get with speed.
Knows how to high point the ball.
Huge catch radius.
Had 20 TDs in 2 seasons.
My grade – A+ - Pick 58: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo Rockets
Arguably “the steal of the draft”.
My S3.
Tall safety at 6’4″.
Plays his best games, against better competition.
Willing tackler.
Turnover machine. Had 8 forced fumbles and 5 interceptions in his college career.
Can play single high safety, and play in the box.
Possible Grant Delpit replacement, as his contract expires after this season.
My grade – A+ - Pick 86: OT Austin Barber, Florida Gators
Absolute mauler in the run game.
Great feet, makes it easy for him to slide.
Gets to the second level fast.
Very strong hands.
Very experienced, with 47 games in 5 seasons.
Does struggle with double moves.
Struggles with the “Wide 9” formation.
My grade – B - Pick 146: C Parker Brailsford, Alabama Crimson Tide
Quick off the snap, allowing him to reach the second level fast.
Great feet (see a theme here).
Finishes every single rep through the whistle (see Georgia game).
High football IQ and very aware of his surroundings. Picks up twists and delayed blitzes with ease.
Smooth as silk on pull blocks and working in space.
Better pass protecter than run blocker.
Small for position. Only 6’2″ and 282 lbs.
Penalty prone (17 flags in 3 seasons).
My grade – B - Pick 149: LB Justin Jefferson, Alabama Crimson Tide
Fast. He has 4.5 sideline-to-sideline speed.
Smooth backpedal when playing in zone coverage.
Great tackler. His “missed tackle rate” dropped every season, as he progressed through college.
His speed, acceleration, and ability to flip his hips in transition, allow him to stay with tight ends and running backs.
He’s a classic WLB at 227 lbs.
Struggles to hold up at the point of attack. Often just washed away in the run game.
My grade – B+ - Pick 170: TE Joe Royer, Cincinnati Bearcats
My TE5.
A steal in this spot.
Great hands.
BIG catch radius, at 6’5″.
Excellent football IQ. He finds the soft spots in zone and just sits. Giving his QB a big easy target.
Seeks out contact, running through arm tackles and lowering his head for that first down.
Good route runner, using his feet and head fakes to get open when covered man-to-man.
Has the speed to play in the slot and beat out linebackers and safties that drop down.
Lacks strength in the run game.
His willingness to fight for extra yards, has resulted in fumbles (see Miami game).
My grade – A. - Pick 182: QB Taylen Green, Arkansas Razorbacks
Absolute athletic freak for a QB.
Tremendous ability to turn a sack, into a first down.
Very strong arm.
High release point means very few batted passes.
GOD AWFUL accuracy.
Wouldn’t trust him to hit the broadside of a barn at 10 yards.
When pressured, runs backwards instead of climbing the pocket.
His overconfidence in his athletic abilities, leads to taking too many sacks and plays resulting in loss of yards.
Too loosie-goosie with the football when running.
A HORRIBLE TD-INT ratio (53-35).
My grade – F - Pick 248: TE Carsen Ryan, BYU Cougars
Good size at 6’4″ and 250 lbs.
Decent production when thrown to. 45 catches, for 620 yards, and 4 TDs.
A willing and capable blocker in the run game.
Short arms, means a small catch radius.
Needs to improve route running on short and intermediate routes.
Almost completely stops when taking on lead blocking role.
My grade – C
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Overall, Browns General Manager Andrew Berry did a tremendous job addressing their most pressing needs and building depth on the offensive side of the ball. The 2 players chosen on the defensive side of the ball are going to contribute on Day 1. Whether that’s McNeil-Warren replacing Hickman at FS or being the primary backup at both safety spots; as well as Jefferson being the primary backup to Schwesinger and/or Williams at linebacker.
New Browns head coach Todd Monken has proven that he’s able to adapt his offensive play calling, around the players on his roster.
This draft tells me that he’s going to run a lot of 12-personnel formations. He’s going to put one of the TE’s (Fannin Jr or Royer) in the slot, and have a smart, pass blocking first center, making the offensive line calls. His offensive linemen will pull and stretch the defense with zone runs, and then find the wide receivers and tight ends, in the intermediate zone of the field.
– by Sean McKenzie
Stats and information courtesy of…..NFL, NCAA, PFF, and ESPN.
Picture courtesy of…..wallpapercave.
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