The Cleveland Browns marched into the NFL Draft this season desperately looking for receivers, or so we thought. The Browns actually did not make that move until the fourth round, and instead went with two linemen with their first-round picks. Let’s take a look at who the Browns took with their other selections.
1st Round Pick (#12 Overall): Danny Shelton, Nose Tackle, Washington
1st Round Pick (#19 Overall from BUF): Cameron Erving, Offensive Lineman, Florida State
2nd Round Pick (#51 Overall from HOU): Nate Orchard, Outside Linebacker, Utah
3rd Round Pick (#77 Overall): Duke Johnson, Running Back, Miami
3rd Round Pick (#96 Overall from NE): Xavier Cooper, Defensive Lineman, Washington State
4th Round Pick (#115 Overall from BUF): Ibraheim Campbell, Safety, Northwestern
4th Round Pick (#123 Overall from ARI): Vince Mayle, Wide Receiver, Washington State
6th Round Pick (#189 Overall): Charles Gaines, Defensive Back, Louisville
6th Round Pick (#195 Overall from HOU): Malcolm Johnson, H-Back, Mississippi State
6th Round Pick (#198 Overall from ARI): Randall Telfer, Tight End, USC
7th Round Pick (#219 Overall from NE): Hayes Pullard, Inside Linebacker, USC
7th Round Pick (#241 Overall from ARI): Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Defensive Back, Oregon
Cleveland Browns 2015 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: Normally the first draft pick a team makes deserves the title of best player, but with the Browns current quarterback situation, adding Cameron Irving was the best thing they could do. He is one of the best offensive linemen in the class and he will join Pro Bowlers Joe Thomas and Alex Mack on a suddenly formidable line.
The Head-Scratcher: As mentioned previously, Cleveland did not make the move to draft a wide receiver until the fourth round. Despite receiver being listed as one of their top priorities after the suspension of Josh Gordon, the Browns still neglected the unit. This means Vince Mayle (Washington State) will need to step up right away for Cleveland.
The Surprise: When the Browns took Nate Orchard in the second round, it was very surprising because wide receiver Jaelen Strong was still sitting on the board. Do the Browns know what they are doing? They surely have a plan, right?
The Steal: Seventh-round pick Ifo Ekpre-Olomu has first-round talent, but a terrible knee injury dropped him all the way to the seventh round. If he returns to full strength or even close to it, this selection is a steal. Seventh-round picks are usually projects that rarely pan out anyway, so taking a shot on a legitimate talent like Ekpre-Olomu here could turn out to be the best selection of the draft.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: The Browns found their newest defensive lineman in Danny Shelton when he accepted his first-round pick by giving NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a bear hug. They picked up a much-needed interior rusher on their defensive line and maybe a boost of energy from the former Washington Husky.
The Rest: One pick that has been underlooked: Duke Johnson in the third round. Johnson is an electric running back that can take the ball all the way on any given play. This gives Cleveland another offensive weapon for whoever plays quarterback this season.
The Bottom Line: The Browns filled many of their needs and picked up some solid players in the process. Although they did not grab a wide receiver until the fourth round, they did select impact players that will help at other positions.
Overall Grade: 9/10
Check out our other draft reviews here.
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