Many know the Cleveland Browns as the joke of the National Football League. But since the conclusion of the 2015 season, they have been looking to improve their chances of finishing with their first winning season since 2007. They even hired new head coach Hue Jackson and executive vice president of football operations, Sashi Brown. This offseason they targeted the opportunity to gain multiple picks in the 2016 NFL Draft, resulting in 14 picks in the end.
Here is who they selected:
1st Round, 15th Overall: wide receiver Corey Coleman (Baylor)
2nd Round, 32nd Overall: defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah (Oklahoma State)
3rd Round, 65th Overall: defensive end Carl Nassib (Penn State)
3rd Round, 76th Overall: offensive tackle Shon Cleman (Auburn)
3rd Round, 93rd Overall: quarterback Cody Kessler (USC)
4th Round, 99th Overall: linebacker Joe Schobert (Wisconsin)
4th Round, 114th Overall: wide receiver Ricardo Louis (Auburn)
4th Round, 129th Overall: safety Derrick Kindred (TCU)
4th Round, 138th Overall: tight end Seth DeValve (Princeton)
5th Round, 154th Overall: wide receiver Jordan Payton (UCLA)
5th Round, 168th Overall: offensive lineman Spencer Drango (Baylor)
5th Round, 172nd Overall: wide receiver Rashard Higgins (Colorado State)
5th Round, 173rd Overall: defensive back Trey Caldwell (Louisiana-Monroe)
7th Round, 250th Overall: linebacker Scooby Wright III (Arizona)
Browns Draft Grade: 8.5/10, B+
Cleveland Browns 2016 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: Corey Coleman racked up over 170 receptions, 3,000 yards, and 30 touchdowns in his career at Baylor. He definitely has the ability become the Browns top receiver this season ahead of veterans Taylor Gabriel, Brian Hartline, and Andrew Hawkins He should be a capable weapon for newly signed Quarterback, Robert Griffin III.
The Head-Scratcher: The Browns selected tight end Seth DeValve with the 138th pick overall in the fourth round. DeValve was the fifth Tight End selected in the draft but was rated among the lowest after the combine. He was expected to go undrafted. This pick could be called quite a reach for the Browns, especially when they already have Gary Barnidge behind the wheel.
The Surprise: Most of their picks can’t be considered a ‘surprise’ because the Browns really needed to fill many of the holes in their roster with their selections. When they started with the second overall pick, analysts had them going defense. But after they traded down twice they decided with the offensive side of the ball.
The Steal: Scooby Wright was projected by many to go in the second round. Some even had him as a dark horse day one selection. But he landed in the hands of the Browns in the seventh round, nearly going undrafted. With his versatile talent it could be just a few short years before he is considered a big draft steal among the league.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: Rashard Higgins was one of the handful of wide receivers to go in this draft. Despite some hiccups with his performance, there is definite room for development among the improving Browns franchise.
The Rest: The Browns were able to snag two of the most anticipated players of the draft, defensive end Carl Nassib and USC quarterback Cody Kessler. The event ended with a total of 4 receivers for quarterbacks Josh McCown, Robert Griffin, Cody Kessler and Austin Davis.
The Bottom Line: The bottom line is that the Browns are starting one step at a time to climb back up the ladder and begin their ascent into a really competitive NFL team.
