The NFL draft is over. Now the wait until the 2020 NFL season begins. Though nobody really knows what lies ahead for sports this season, speculation and reaction to the draft picks can still shine through. Now that the dust has settled, let’s take a look at the Cleveland Browns 2020 NFL Draft picks, and how they can impact the team this season.
Grading the Cleveland Browns 2020 NFL Draft Class
Round 1, Pick 10: Jedrick Wills, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
Grade: A
The Browns filled the biggest hole on the roster with their first selection. Wills is perhaps the most NFL-ready tackle in this year’s draft, and he fell to Cleveland at 10. He has good size, athleticism, and footwork. He will plug in immediately and start at left tackle, protecting Baker Mayfield‘s blindside. Mayfield took 40 sacks last season, and Cleveland did all they could with their first selection to take some pressure off of him in 2020.
Round 2, Pick 44: Grant Delpit, Safety, LSU
Grade: A-
Once again, Cleveland addressed a massive hole on the roster, adding Delpit, who many felt could’ve been a first-round pick this season. The only other safeties on the roster leading up to this pick were Sheldrick Redwine and Karl Joseph. Delpit will start immediately as the free safety and alleviate some pressure on the Browns’ young corners, Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams. There were concerns about Delpit’s ability to tackle, but he addressed those by making 10 tackles without missing one during LSU’s National Championship run last year.
Round 3, Pick 88: Jordan Elliott, Defensive Tackle, Missouri
Grade: B-
The Browns went for depth on the interior defensive line here, which is nothing to complain about. Both linebacker and wide receiver were arguably bigger needs at the moment, but they addressed those at a later time in the draft, so the defensive tackle pick made sense. Elliott should provide valuable depth on the line, and if he develops well, he will most likely start alongside Larry Ogunjobi in Joe Woods‘ 4-3 defense as soon as next season.
Round 3, Pick 97: Jacob Phillips, Linebacker, LSU
Grade: B
Cleveland continued its SEC parade with Phillips, who once again, fills a need for the defense. With both Christian Kirksey and Joe Schobert gone, the linebacking corps was quite thin. Phillips is a sure tackler, and he led LSU in tackles last season. Tackling was a huge problem for the Browns last year, and that’s what made Phillips an attractive option for Andrew Berry here. He will most likely be thrust into a starting role alongside Mack Wilson and a combination of Sione Takitaki/B.J. Goodson. He flashed some coverage skill, but most of his appeal comes as a run stopper and open-field tackler.
Round 4, Pick 115: Harrison Bryant, Tight End, FAU
Grade: B+
This pick is a win if for the sole reason that Cleveland now has insurance if David Njoku can’t stay healthy or develop his hands. Kevin Stefanski employs more two tight end sets than any other NFL play-caller, and the Browns now have four viable options on the roster, all with different skill sets. Bryant is athletic, has great size, and showed some serious run-blocking skill at FAU. He can play all over the field, and if all goes according to plan, he and Austin Hooper will be a serious threat to the best pair of tight ends on any NFL roster.
Round 5, Pick 160: Nick Harris, Center, Washington
Grade: B-
A lot of people felt Cleveland could have gone wide receiver here, but they elected for some more depth on the offensive line. Harris also made starts at guard at Washington, and the right guard slot is still somewhat of a question mark for the Browns. Harris may make spot starts at center and guard in 2010, and could potentially challenge for the starting right guard slot as soon as 2021.
Round 6, pick 187: Donovan Peoples-Jones, Wide Receiver, Michigan
Grade: B
This one made a lot of Browns/Ohio State Buckeye fans angry. Not only did Cleveland decline to select former Buckeye wideout K.J. Hill, they even had the audacity to select a former Michigan Wolverine in Peoples-Jones instead. However, Peoples-Jones was the correct pick. He has massive special teams potential both as a returner and a gunner, and he brings a much-needed element to the Browns’ wide receiver room; size. At 6’1″, he can go up and catch contested balls in the red zone, and he’s comfortable running routes from both the slot and the outside.
Overall Grade: A
Not bad, Andrew Berry and Paul DePodesta. The Browns young new front office addressed every single hole on the roster. The offensive line finally appears to be complete, and potentially elite. The linebacking corps looks a lot better than it did pre-draft and so does the secondary (Cleveland also added Oklahoma State CB, A.J. Green as an undrafted free agent; Green was given a fifth-sixth round draft grade by multiple analysts). The defensive line is deep and talented, and Baker Mayfield has on paper, the NFL’s best offensive weapons. If and when the 2020 NFL season happens, the Browns are going to be talented, exciting, and scary for the rest of the AFC North on both sides of the ball.
