Coming into this draft, the fate of the Cleveland Browns rested on Sashi Brown and Hue Jackson. Since 1999, the Browns have been the NFL’s image of futility. With only one playoff appearance since their return, Cleveland has seen nearly two decades of ineptitude. However, it seems that this new regime may have something. Analysts all around the NFL are, unusually, praising the Browns 2017 NFL Draft. Here’s who they picked:
1st Round, 1st Overall: DE Myles Garrett (Texas A&M)
1st Round, 25th Overall: S Jabrill Peppers (Michigan)
1st Round, 29th Overall: TE David Njoku (Miami (FL))
2nd Round, 52nd Overall: QB DeShone Kizer (Notre Dame)
3rd Round, 65th Overall: DT Larry Ogunjobi (Charlotte)
4th Round, 126th Overall: CB Howard Wilson (Houston)
5th Round, 160th Overall: OL Roderick Johnson (Florida State)
6th Round, 185th Overall: DT Caleb Brantley (Florida)
7th Round, 224th Overall: K Zane Gonzalez (Arizona State)
7th Round, 252nd Overall: RB Matthew Dayes (North Carolina State)
Browns 2017 NFL Draft Grade: 9/10
Cleveland Browns 2017 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player
This one’s got to be a shoe-in. As the first overall pick in the draft, Myles Garrett is expected to be the best player in this draft. As of right now, he looks like he should be. First off, Garrett is a total athletic freak who knows exactly what he’s doing out on the football field. He’s smart, athletically gifted, and has every tool to succeed. The only concern is his lack of effort at times. However, it seems as though he only did that in college to keep himself healthy in the pros. In any case, Browns fans should expect their first overall pick to make an immediate impact in 2017.
The Head-Scratcher
By far, the weirdest selection out of this draft was Caleb Brantley. Throughout the whole draft, the Browns front office was looking for high character guys. However, Brantley is quite far from fitting that bill. Brantley, it looks like, will face charges for domestic abuse sometime over this summer. If he is guilty, the Browns will most likely release him. However, they did see enough pure talent in Brantley to take a flyer on him. If he does work out, the Browns could have found themselves a steal right here. But for right now, there are just too many questions. Depending on whether or not this works, Brantley could be the best or worst pick of the Browns 2017 NFL Draft.
The Surprise
Oh, it’s true. Kickers are people too. In the draft’s final round, the Browns took Zane Gonzalez, a kicker from Arizona State University. As one of the most deadly kickers in FBS history, this was a total “analytics” pick. Gonzalez has made more field goals than anyone else in NCAA history, and the Browns saw enough potential in that alone. This pick was a surprise, no doubt, but it should prove to be a pleasant one for the Browns 2017 NFL Draft.
The Steal
Let’s go back to the seventh round, this time, the 252nd pick. With the second-last pick in the Draft, the Browns took Matthew Dayes, a running back from North Carolina State. Although Dayes is “nothing special,” he could work in Hue Jackson’s scheme. At 5’9, 205, Dayes is a muscle back who could work well with Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson. Additionally, he could work on special teams, if they choose not to put Jabrill Peppers there.
Most Likely To Turn Heads At Training Camp
This one is a tie; one player on offense, one on defense. First off, let’s go offense. Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer, although not expected to be this year’s starter, could be a franchise quarterback. Throughout the past two days, many fans have warmed up to the Kizer pick. Those who believe in the “AFC North Quarterback” mantra will love Kizer. He is big, strong-armed, and can make any NFL-level throw expected of him.
Now, let’s move on to the defensive side of the ball and look at Jabrill Peppers. As Michigan’s swiss army knife last year, Peppers has turned a lot of heads already. In his opening press conference, Peppers noted that he might even see some time on offense. One thing is for certain: Jabrill Peppers is the everyman that the Browns 2017 NFL Draft needed.
All The Rest
Let’s give a one sentence review of the other draft picks for the Browns. First, Larry Ogunjobi is a great three-technique defensive tackle that could learn a lot from Danny Shelton. Howard Wilson from Houston needs some development, but he could be a shut-down corner in the future. Roderick Johnson is a developmental left tackle that could wait in the wings to follow Joe Thomas at a later date.
The Bottom Line
In a time of need, the team of Hue and Sashi really delivered on this draft. Most importantly, perhaps, they did not reach for a quarterback. The Chicago Bears were happy to oblige that role. Overall, this draft should be a successful one for the Browns. Although it can’t be fully graded just yet, Browns fans should be positive. Finally, it seems, the Cleveland Browns future is looking up. Their 2017 NFL Draft gets a solid 9/10.
Main Photo: PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 27: A detailed view of the screen on stage of Myles Garrett of Texas A&M after being picked #1 overall by the Cleveland Browns during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
