Saturday, April 27, 2019

Browns select Sione Takitaki in 3rd round

The Cleveland Browns need help at the linebacker positions and I thought that they could pick multiple players at the position in the draft.

I was hoping for Alabama's Mack Wilson and Wilson was available for the Browns at pick 80 overall in round three.
I must have liked Wilson better than the league as he will still be eligible for selection on Saturday's final day of the draft, but John Dorsey still picked a linebacker in Brigham Young's Sione Takitaki.

The 6'1 238 pound Takitaki led the Cougars in tackles last season and was a team captain in 2018.
That final note has to have helped Takitaki, who had several off the field incidents that included a one-year suspension, but the Browns noted that his marriage had settled Takitaki away from the game and that his problems were in the past.
I've seen a fair amount of BYU games and my report on Takitaki settles somewhere in the middle of Scott Dryden, who liked him a lot and Dane Brugler, who had a sixth-round grade on him in the Athletic.

Takitaki has a high motor and doesn't take plays off, but Brugler states that while he makes some big plays, he tends to overrun some as well.
Takitaki started his career as an edge rusher, which the Browns liked as the team announced that he could play all three linebacker positions as well as pass rush.
Players with the high energy traits of Takitaki are usually successful on special teams and at a minimum, he should be able to help there next season.

I'm Ok with this pick, but there were players I preferred, so I'm just middle of the road on this one.


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