Browns Draft Recap

Everyone always says how much they hate the grading of drafts immediately following the draft and how unfair it is, half will be wrong, etc.

And those same people read them all and in many cases write them, so why is that?
Because it's speculation and with the draft, speculation is fun!

I could sum this draft up quickly and without detail and simply say it's an A-.

The Browns landed arguably the best tackle in the draft in Alabama's Jedrick Wills in the first and my top-ranked safety in LSU's Grant Delpit in round two without giving anything up and adding a fifth-rounder to a draft that lacked one when the draft started.
Both Wills and Delpit almost certainly will be immediate starters.
Missouri defensive tackle Jordan Elliott is rated highly and should be a rotational player this season, and perhaps more for the 2021 season with both Larry Ogunjobi and Sheldon Richardson eligible for free agency after the 2020 term.

One often hears the term "Overdrafted" when a player goes earlier than expected, but the Browns used two picks for receivers that use the seldom-used term "Underdrafted" with John Mackey Award winner Harrison Bryant of Florida Atlantic in the fourth round and Michigan wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones in the sixth frame.
Bryant should see plenty of field time in the Kevin Stefanski offense as a receiving tight end and Peoples-Jones may not break into the lineup at wide receiver as quickly but should have a chance to help with returning punts, which he did at Michigan, and perhaps kickoffs as well.

Some questioned the choice of Washington center Nick Harris due to his size, but Harris can play guard, fits the zone blocking scheme of new offensive line coach Bill Callahan, and could be the eventual replacement for J.C. Tretter, despite Tretter's contract extension that he signed last year.
LSU linebacker Jacob Phillips is an excellent tackler who has questions about his pass coverage.
At a minimum, Phillips should be able to be a two-down linebacker for Cleveland and even though I preferred Ohio State's Malik Harrison, who was taken one pick later by Baltimore, the worst thing that I can say about Phillips is that he might have been drafted a little early and it could be that new defensive coordinator Joe Woods might think that Phillips suits what he wants from his defense more than Harrison will.

Here are my kudos and concerns from the draft.
Please keep in mind that these are not projections on my mind, just some thoughts from each side of the ledger, and do not mean that I am predicting that either side is predictions on my part.

Kudos

1: When your guys fall to you- Don't get cute- take him.
The Browns did just that in the first round with Jedrick Wills and on day three with Harrison Bryant.
In the past, the Browns would get too clever, try to get something else, and wind up losing your guy.
This time they stayed put and took their player, now let's see if Wills is the best of four very good tackle prospects.

2: The draft did set up for the Browns at 41 in the second round with Grant Delpit, Antoine Winfield Jr., and Ashtyn Davis all available for the Browns to fill their need at safety.
With all three available when the Colts called to talk about moving up from 44, it made sense to take the free fifth-rounder as the Colts were unlikely to take a safety.
The Browns were then guaranteed that one of the three was going to be on the board for their pick.
That's a smart time to move down and add assets.

3: I've stated through the years that teams become playoff teams by accumulating players who can make impact plays and not by amassing multiple players that are average.
The Browns usually did this as part of the trading down process that the analytics people love so much but in this draft, Cleveland managed to grab who they rated as the best tackle, best safety, and maybe the best pass-catching tight end.
Impact players who make a difference will be the core of turning this organization around.

Concerns

1: I still wonder about the third-round selection of Jacob Phillips over Malik Harrison.
The Browns have noted that they like Phillips in passing situations as a good coverage linebacker, but when you watch his video, you see that Phillips doesn't have great lateral mobility and needs work in coverage.
I'm not the professional and I'm not knocking Phillips as a player at all as he has plenty to like, but I do find that a bit odd.

2) While I really like all three of the picks on the final day, I do wish that the Browns had found a way for another linebacker to be added.
The Browns linebackers are very young with only journeyman B.J. Goodson having experience beyond second-year men or rookies, so I'd be surprised if Andrew Berry doesn't go shopping for a veteran free agent either now or in June for a bargain cap casualty.

3) While I like the pick of Jordan Elliott for both value and talent, I do wonder about a pass rusher at defensive end.
It's clear that Olivier Vernon is going to return and should Vernon be able to stay healthy, he will more than provide the needed help for Myles Garrett off the edge.
However, Vernon's health is a fair topic to question as he has missed four or more games in each of the last three seasons.
Veteran Adrian Clayborn could help in limited situations and I guess the Browns can hope for Chad Thomas to show something, but if Vernon can't stay on the field the defensive end spot is a major concern.

There's a lot to like about this draft for the Browns and there isn't a clear scream at the TV selection here as even the best drafts in the past have possessed (Chad Thomas over Sam Hubbard, anyone?).
However, the other teams in the AFC North did quite well in the draft as well and it's fair to question how much the gap between the Browns and the Ravens/Steelers has been narrowed.
How well did they do?
I'll be back soon with a look at the drafts of the other divisional rivals and how well their haul worked out for 2020.

Browns select Jordan Elliott and Jacob Phillips

Entering the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns had done quite well for themselves with the selections of tackle Jedrick Wills on the draft's first evening and safety Grant Delpit earlier in the night.

Cleveland owned two choices in the third round to end the second day of the draft-their own and the Houston Texans compensation pick near the end of the round that the Browns added in the trade that sent Duke Johnson to the Texans.
The Browns would not use their choice as they would send that pick to New Orleans, who would take Wisconsin linebacker Zach Baun, and the Browns seventh-rounder (244) in return for the Saints pick later in the round ( 14 picks later), and their third-rounder in the 2021 draft.

Cleveland used the pick from New Orleans to select defensive tackle Jordan Elliott of Missouri.
The 6'4 Elliott was ranked by Pro Football Focus, the site most fancied by the Browns front office, as the top defender overall in the SEC as far as their grading process goes.
Elliott finished last season with eight and a half tackles for loss and is known as a player that can make stops in the backfield and adds some pass rush up the middle.
Elliott isn't known as an especially strong run-stuffer but isn't considered to be a liability as well.
Elliott owns above-average speed for the position and is very nimble off blocks, but isn't as strong as you would like for your defensive tackle.
Elliott has a chance to mature into a three-down lineman, should he add more strength to his game and mature into playing the run better, but should be a rotational lineman as early as this season with the ability to perhaps be more.


The Browns did use their pick that was obtained from the Houston Texans and at a position of need with the selection of another LSU Tiger in inside linebacker Jacob Phillips.
Phillips led the national champions in tackles and is a player that is an excellent finisher in wrapping up his ballcarrier.
Jacob Phillips can blitz the passer, makes the plays at home, and can run down the ballcarrier and I think Phillips has a chance to battle for a starting role right away with his opposition being journeyman B.J. Goodson and second-year player Sione Takitaki.
The question for Phillips is how he can play in the passing downs?
If he can adapt to pass coverage, Phillips will be a very productive player and even if he can't get the hang of coverage right away, Phillips will still be a solid two-down linebacker.
I did like Phillips but liked Ohio State's Malik Harrison a little better and Harrison was selected by the division rival Ravens with the pick that followed the Phillips selection, so it'll be interesting to follow how both players perform.
Phillips might have been drafted a little early and the Browns may have gotten better value for him in the fourth round, but I'm Ok with the pick when you consider that there were only eighteen picks between this one and the Browns fourth-rounder at 115.


Onto the final day as the Browns now own three picks after their two trades on Friday night.
The Browns own their own pick in round four, the Colts pick in round five (160), and the Cardinals pick in round six (187).
It would not surprise me that should the Browns receive an attractive offer in the fourth round to see the Browns drop down a little in the fourth or fifth to add a seventh-rounder as they currently lack one.
I'm thinking the Browns look at wide receiver, another linebacker, and perhaps an offensive lineman with those three picks, but after the fourth round, Cleveland could very easily go the best player available route.

I'll have a look at the newest three (or more) Browns later today.