In the sixth round, the Browns selected their only player on the offensive side of the football when Cleveland pulled the name of Drew Forbes out of the remaining player list,
Forbes is a 6'5, 305-pound lineman from 1-AA Southeast Missouri State that played tackle for the Redhawks but will be slotted as a guard in Cleveland for the Browns.
Forbes was "Prospect X" the player followed throughout the draft process by Sports Illustrated along with his wife, but not identified until after the draft.
Forbes will be moved to guard, as mentioned earlier so there will be a learning process and playing at 1-AA level will also require an adjustment that might see Forbes either come up with an "injury" that protects him on injured reserve for a year or see practice squad duty, but that comes with the risk of another team swooping in to sign Forbes away.
Dane Brugler saw Forbes as a fourth or fifth rounder and likes his power, although he'll have to work on technique against quicker defensive tackles as he moves to guard.
Forbes is a project but has the type of background and strength that might stick around for a while and when you can refine a sixth-rounder with hopes of an eventual starter, you have to be pleased with the pick.
The Browns final pick in the seventh round saw them select their third defensive back of the draft when they took Tulane cornerback Donnie Lee Lewis.
In the seventh round, every player has a blemish or two because if they didn't have blemishes-they wouldn't be available in the seventh round!
Lewis started 44 games for the Green Wave of the American Athletic Conference and according to Dane Brugler is quick and has good ball skills, but lacks strength and can get pushed off the ball.
How much can Lewis contribute on special teams might be the difference in whether Lewis makes the team, the practice squad or gets released in camp.
In conclusion, I'm more than pleased with this draft.
When you consider that the Browns lacked a first rounder from the Odell Beckham trade, one cannot help but be happy with a player looked at by some as the best cornerback available in Greedy Williams.
That opinion isn't universal, but enough hold that opinion that it at least has to be considered as a first-round talent being added in the second round.
Linebacker Sione Takitaki is another player that is rated higher by some than others, but those that like him love his speed and intensity.
I think Mack Wilson in the fifth round could eventually be an out and out theft and Drew Forbes is the type of low-risk (6th round) high reward player that might need some development time but could be an eventual starter with some good fortune.
Sheldrick Redwine at minimum should be an immediate special teamer and maybe a starter down the road.
And with the undrafted free agent bunch adding big armed Purdue quarterback David Blough, who I mentioned as a developmental quarterback
All things considered, the Browns couldn't ask for more from a draft without a first rounder.
Draft Grade B+
No comments:
Post a Comment