Now that we’ve had a few weeks to digest the 2020 NFL Draft and look a little deeper at the Cleveland Browns’ selections, it’s time to spin them forward towards actually playing football. What will they offer on the field?
After watching some more film and evaluating the roster, both now and beyond 2020, here are a few predictions on what happens with some of the rookie class.
Grant Delpit becomes a fixture at safety right away
Cleveland’s second-round pick was often projected as a top-10 overall player early in the 2019 college season. Delpit played through an injury and struggled more than expected with tackling and pursuit angles in coverage. The Browns are banking on Delpit returning to the form he showed at LSU prior to that.
Their faith will be rewarded. Delpit will play a significant role in Week 1 and emerges as a long-term, above-average fixture at a position where the Browns have struggled for years with continuous competence. He might not begin 2020 as the starter, but Delpit will take over quickly.
Jordan Elliott washes out quickly
Not every selection pans out. It happens every year, even to the most successful teams. The biggest miss in GM Andrew Berry’s first class will be the high risk/reward third-rounder, Jordan Elliott.
At Missouri, Elliott was a disruptive defensive tackle and a menace for unskilled interior blockers. He’s not without ability to shoot gaps and his hand and shoulder usage are impressive. But Elliott was quite reliant on winning the initial battle right off the snap. Guys who need that to win in the NFL don’t last long. There is reason to have hope with Elliott, but there’s a very real chance it doesn’t last long for him in Cleveland.
Jacob Phillips fills one very specific role
Cleveland’s second third-round pick, Jacob Phillips was seen as a bit of a reach by most draft analysts. The Browns took the risk because they saw something in Phillips’ game tape that he offered better than any other player available at the time.
Jacob Phillips: mobile QB spy. It might seem odd given how stiff in lateral movement Phillips can appear on tape and in drills, but at LSU he demonstrated the instincts, quick reactions and proper decision-making to become a very effective foil against dual-threat QBs. When the Browns face the likes of Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson, Ryan Tannehill and other QBs who can threaten with their legs as well as their arms, Phillips figures to play a lot.
Jedrick Wills will thrive in pass protection but not run blocking
Cleveland’s top pick will start right away at left tackle. That’s not a bold prediction; it’s a fact the team has already acknowledged. But how will Wills perform at left tackle?
He’ll be a great upgrade in pass protection over Greg Robinson, the starter the last two seasons. Wills uses his athleticism, footwork, technique and strength very well already, and Baker Mayfield will benefit from having his blind side protected by such a skilled player. However, Wills needs work as a run blocker, and his early learning curve could take a toll on Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt and the Browns run game.
Wills doesn’t sustain his run blocks as much as he hits and runs. That technique works much better in college, where defenders will be more impacted by his jolting initial contact. Playing against NFL EDGEs and sturdier linebackers will prove much more complicated.
A.J. Green will play a lot for an undrafted free agent
The Browns didn’t technically draft Oklahoma State CB A.J. Green. They signed him shortly after the seventh round concluded, but that’s enough to tie him directly to Berry’s first draft.
Green offers the Browns something they sorely needed at cornerback: size. He’s over 6 feet tall and checks in at 205 pounds, bigger than any cornerback currently on the roster who projects to see the field. Green lacks speed but that’s not why the Browns showed such interest in him. He’ll get on the field quickly to matchup up against bigger, more physical receivers.
