Next up in the series recommending a player for each of the seven rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft at a particular position group for the Cleveland Browns: defensive tackle.
It’s a definite need for Cleveland, though not necessarily an urgent one. Sheldon Richardson is a great starting point and played well in his first season with the Browns. Newcomer Andrew Billings is an ascending talent at nose tackle, while enigmatic Larry Ogunjobi enters his contract year.
Who fits best for what new defensive coordinator Joe Woods might want up front in Cleveland? Here is a defensive tackle prospect for each and every round in the draft who could make the Browns better on the line.
First round: Javon Kinlaw
Kinlaw leaped into the national consciousness by almost singlehandedly leading the South Carolina Gamecocks to upset the heavily favored Georgia Bulldogs last fall. It was the most impressive single-game performance by any player I watched all year.
Kinlaw is a physical freak who has worked hard at remaking his body and getting both quicker and stronger. He’s too fast for interior blockers when he gets the initial jump, and his swim, rip and up-and-under moves are polished already. There is some bust potential but also very high-end impact ability right away.
If the Browns somehow don’t take an offensive tackle in the first round, Kinlaw would be my No. 1 choice at No. 10.
Second round: Justin Madubuike
Madubuike posted just modest production in the last two seasons at Texas A&M (5.5 sacks both years), but he’s a player whose impact goes beyond the box score. He’s a quick gap-shooting 3-tech who wins with fast hands and feet and natural leverage. Madubuike is light at about 290 pounds, but he’s functionally strong and uses his lither build effectively to winnow past big blockers. He’s also quite good at chasing down mobile QBs and stretch runs.
The biggest wart with Madubuike is his overeager nature on the field. He runs himself out of the hole in the run game and will get pushed too far upfield on his rush at times, too. Those are problematic but coachable issues.
Third round: Davon Hamilton
Hamilton was more productive for Ohio State than most fans realize. he bagged six sacks in 2019 and not all were the result of cleaning up what Chase Young started. He’s a smart interior presence with quick feet and good balance through contact as he pursues the play.
If Hamilton can get more creative in his pass-rush arsenal, he has the athleticism to become a pretty good interior rusher. As a Buckeye, he was well-schooled at working tandem rushes and gimmicks up front without sacrificing his run-gap responsibilities.
Fourth round: Jordan Elliott
The arrow is pointing up for Elliott, who stepped up in his final year at Missouri and continues to get in better physical condition. Elliott has dropped about 15 pounds and reshaped his lower body since quickly washing out of Texas.
If that sounds similar to current Browns DT Larry Ogunjobi, it should. Elliott has that same sort of potential, though he’s not as attentive in run defense as Ogunjobi yet. If the Browns take Elliott in the fourth (or fifth) round, don’t expect a lot in 2020; it’s a longer-term lottery ticket.
Fifth round: Larrell Murchison
Hailing from North Carolina State, the short-armed Murchison helped himself a lot during Senior Bowl week when he got more 1-on-1 reps and proved he had more to offer. For the Wolfpack, Murchison won almost exclusively with a quick first step and a relentless display of energy thereafter.
He has some decent hands and shoulders to win the initial battle, but his lack of size and anchor strength will relegate Murchison to being a high-energy rotational piece a la Jamie Meder in his Browns tenure.
Sixth round: Raequan Williams
Williams would be a very prudent acquisition as a backup to Andrew Billings at nose tackle. He’s a nose that doesn’t anchor well but attacks a blocker’s shoulder and wins more than he loses.
Entering 2019, I had Williams pegged as a possible Day 2 candidate. His final year at Michigan State underwhelmed, and now the top-heavy Spartan will have to prove he can recapture his excellent form from 2018. The sixth round is a smart place to see if he can make it work with the Browns.
Seventh round: Eli Hanback
Hanback played at Virginia for what seems like a decade. The 6-4, 300-pounder was a steady performer for four years, progressively growing into his frame and expanding his game. As a senior he flashed a little more pass-rush ability, using his hands better and anticipating the block nicely. He was a major problem for Louisville, living in the Cardinals backfield.
Hanback projects as a rotational interior player, a smart, experienced talent who can play on the nose or shade out to a 1-gap role. In the late rounds teams generally opt for either raw athletes with high upsides at one particular role or low-ceiling contributors who are ready right away. Hanback fits in the latter category.
