Cleveland Browns Most Expensive Ticket in 2015 Comes When They Host The Ravens
May 5, 2015Categorical, ridiculous draft grades for the Browns
May 5, 2015The 2015 NFL Draft has come and gone. The Browns added a lot of new faces over the past week, drafting 12 new players in all. They went big early with their selections of defensive lineman Danny Shelton from Washington and offensive lineman Cameron Erving from Florida State. On Day 2, the Browns selected pass rusher Nate Orchard of Utah, running back Duke Johnson of Miami (FL) and defensive lineman Xavier Cooper of Washington State. They finished the 2015 NFL Draft off with seven more selections.
In total, the team drafted seven defensive players and five offensive players over the course of three days. Here is my breakdown of the 2015 draft class for the Cleveland Browns.
Favorite Pick: RB Duke Johnson, Miami (FL)
If you were following me Friday on Twitter, you probably already know that Duke Johnson was my favorite of the all the Browns’ selections. Johnson gives the Browns something they sorely need in speed and playmaking ability. He gives the running backs group a homerun threat with the ability to make defenders miss with great agility. The very exciting part about his game is that even with his smaller size, he can run between the tackles and break tackles with strength. He also gives the team a great receiver out of the backfield and also a returner on special teams. I see Johnson catapulting to the top of the depth chart as the top back for the Browns.
Least Favorite Pick: OL Cameron Erving, Florida State
Don’t get me wrong, I think Erving can be a very good offensive lineman for the Browns. I am not upset that the Browns took him to help out their lack of depth on the offensive line that hurt them a lot last season. But, I just would have gone in a different direction with a player who can have a quicker impact for the Browns, like one of the many receivers or pass rushers who were available. Erving does not have a clear path to the starting lineup, except for right tackle, which is his weakest position. This was a pick for the future and depth, rather than an instant contributor.
Best Fit: DL Danny Shelton, Washington
Danny Shelton fits the Browns biggest need as a 0-technique run stuffing defensive lineman. The Browns just did not have a player on the line who could fill up the opponent’s interior running lanes. He takes up blockers and can shed them easily with his strong hands. Shelton can solidify the defensive line and allow the other defensive linemen on the team to get free to make plays. The Browns ranked last in run defense last season, so the team addressed it with the best run defender in the draft.
Best Under-the-Radar Pick: DL Xavier Cooper, Washington State
Xavier Cooper is another player who gives the Browns something they sorely need, pass rush ability on the defensive line. Cooper has good quickness and hands to penetrate into the backfield. He explodes all the line, gaining a quick advantage against offensive linemen. These traits allow him to be a very disruptive player against the pass. He has the athletic ability to move well in space to track down quarterbacks trying to run. Cooper will give the Browns much needed pass rush from someone else besides the edge rushers.
Biggest Instant Impact: DL Danny Shelton, Washington
Shelton should start right away as the 0-technique nose tackle for the Browns. He will definitely come in on first and second downs to help stuff the run. His presence in the middle should immediately improve the Browns porous run defense from last season. His ability to take up multiple blockers will make things a lot easier for his fellow defensive linemen. I believe he will be the main cog of an improved run defense.
Best Late Round Value: CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu has the talent of a first rounder, but fell because of injury concerns. Before hurting his knee, Ekpre-Olomu was mentioned as a player with first- or second-round potential. He has good athleticism with fluid hips to change direction and make quick closes to the ball. He has the ability to play in both zone and man coverage. His ball skills are very good for a small corner. If he can get healthy, Ekpre-Olomu has the potential to be a starting corner for the Browns.
Best Special Teams Contributor: LB Hayes Pullard, USC
Hayes Pullard has everything you want in a special teams standout. He has good change of direction ability, speed, and tackling ability to play in both kick and punt coverage. Along with his athletic ability, Pullard has great character and work ethic. He will work as hard as possible to make a play on special teams. He has the experience of playing in special teams coverage in college. I believe his athleticism and mindset are a great combination for a special teams contributor.
Biggest Need Area Filled: Defensive Line
The Browns add two talented defensive linemen in Danny Shelton and Xavier Cooper. Shelton will anchor the middle of the line against the run, while Cooper will give the team a lineman to rotate in on passing situations. At the end of last season, the depth and talent of the defensive line was horrendous. With the free agent signing of Randy Starks and the two new draftees, the defensive line is markedly better than last season. The line has flexibility to adapt to certain circumstances like passing or running situations.
Biggest Need Not Filled: Wide Receiver
Some may say quarterback, but this draft did not have great talent besides the top two, who were both unattainable because of price. The Browns are still looking for a number one receiver or a receiver who can create big plays for the offense and change the way defenses play the Browns’ offense. The team had a chance with their No. 19 pick to get a big play receiver like Phillip Dorsett or Devin Smith, along with other options with their later picks to find a big play receiver. I am not killing the Browns over this because a team can only do so much in one offseason. It is hard to fix every problem the team has, but I thought they might have had a chance to grab a receiver.
29 Comments
If Johnson is a homerun threat, the Indians should see if they can also sign him.
/mixed metaphor comedy
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The day after last year’s draft everyone’s fav pick was Terrance West. In our heart of hearts we all love us some skill players in the draft. Then by November everyone was ga-ga over Bitonio. Johnson does look explosive in the highlights, but I had this weird take watching the extreme torque he puts on his knees as he cuts, like he’s a bad ACL waiting to happen.
Agree with you about Cooper. He looks so fast on his feet for a fat man. Clog the middle and maybe Mingo will be set free to shoot gaps without shedding blockers, just like in college.
we need to verify if he is a LHB or RHB though.
Maybe he’s a switch-hitter!
watching the extreme torque he puts on his knees as he cuts, like he’s a bad ACL waiting to happen I agree they shouldn’t draft players who could injure their ACLs due to over torque!
After watching the OL fall apart a year ago after Mack was injured and knowing that Mack could leave after next season after already having some contentious negotiations with this organization I have ZERO issue with the selection of Irving. Whether he was taken to soon is conjecture we will never know but for the reasons I previously mentioned why take the risk on waiting>?
As for the WRs it should have been clear that as soon as Hartline and Bowe were signed as FAs that WR was no longer a top need. Does this mean that either of those two will be the answers of course not but for now the WR position has depth. Besides lets remember who that group could potentially have throwing them the ball. This offense be predicated on the run, period. Possession passing, move the chains not homerun bombs all over the field.
hence, my acknowledging it was a “weird take.” Thought I was among friends.
LoL it’s all good. I like Duke I like the extra dimension he might be able to bring.
I really like the D-Line picks…on one condition. And that is that Mike Pettine and staff remain in place for a long, long time. We basically picked two guys to play the same position (DT) who bring very discrete skill sets to the field. Basically, Shelton is there to stop the run and Cooper is there to rush the QB on passing downs. It’s unusual for a team to take guys at the same position in the top 3 rounds who aren’t obvious 3-down players. But I have confidence in Pettine (and to a lesser extent O’Brien) to utilize these guys to their fullest extent. (Just hope someone on the staff pays real close attention to substitutions–we don’t need 12 men on the field penalties every drive!)
Again, I have confidence Pettine knows how to use these guys and it’s a good sign that the organization (finally!) has a clear personnel plan. I just worry that with this year’s schedule and McCown & Manziel as the QB’s, we could be in for a tough year. Anything less than 6 wins in a coach’s second year puts him on the proverbial “hot seat.” Worst case scenario is we go 4-12, Haslam gets trigger happy and fires Pettine and Farmer. An even worst case scenario is he brings in a whole new regime dedicated to running the 4-3. Shelton, Cooper, and 2nd rounder Nate Orchard are all 3-4 guys. Tom Heckert actually did a good job building a front 7, as we had good depth with Taylor, Winn, Rubin, Hughes, and D’Qwell Jackson in various roles. When we switched to the 3-4 in 2013, a lot of those guys were wasted. I fear the same things happening here and us spending, say, the 2017 NFL Draft on completely rebuilding our front 7 for the third time in less than a decade.
eh … it was an okay draft … mwahahahahahahahahaha !! … sorry. i probably shouldn’t say anything.
LMAO !!
i don’t know , man … WR vince mayle is not chopped liver. yes , he had some problems with drops … but look at his school record-setting setting numbers & he was in the running for the biletnikoff award amongst a strong crop of WR’s … i trust farmer & his staff did their homework on this guy.
i have a feeling Mayle will spend the summer learning to block and be used at TE as much as WR.
perhaps (not really big enough, but maybe), also he is a fantastic ST gunner
Respectfully, put down exactly who the Browns should of taken instead of Erving.
I said it before, I’ll say it again. Since people have their own opinions. Being right is the key. I thought Shelton was the 2nd best DL prospect. And Erving was a top OL IMO. Maybe the most versatile in the draft. He might have been a little reach. But not as much as the Redskins with Scherff. Or the Colts taking Dorsett. Coming from a Ravens fan. I thought the Browns had a very good draft. I was impressed. I compare Shelton to Haloti Ngata. I compare Duke to Ray Rice. You have to keep up with the teams in your division. The Browns did exactly that. Being criticized for not taking a QB. Maybe they could have taken a WR earlier. Whatever. They landed their picks in about every round. Watching the Bills take Nick O’Leary in the 6th right before they picked was about the only fault. Not theirs. The Browns filled plenty of holes. Guys that will be probable starters. I heard someone say the Ifo pick could be the steal of the draft. A 7th round pick that could be boom or bust. Not bad. The Browns have a solid roster. There’s always next years draft to look for a QB or WR.
Browns shored up both lines. Game is won in the trenches. Browns might have one of the better OL in the league. And the DL just got way better. I’m glad the Ravens drafted a RB. One that is considered a steal in the later rounds.
I thought Nate Orchard was an excellent 3rd round pick. Browns have to draft. Nobody wants to go there as FA or UDFA. Getting the right coaches in place and keeping them is the key.
I said the same thing about the Rams drafting Gurley.
The Giants snatching Landon Collins from the Bears after the Packers passed on him was about the Giants only real draft pick. The Redskins and Colts didn’t have a very good draft IMO. Ozzie had the Broncos and Elway move up five spots in the 1st round to take Shane Ray and then moved up three spots and took Maxx Williams from the Steelers and Broncos in the 2nd. Poker faces people. Did you see all the TE’s coming off the board in the later rounds?
good post CJ …
hi SCRIPTY … there are many that would say WR. i too think erving was a nice selection.
excellent post CJ …
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Frustrating when people knock a choice but dont come out and name who they’d prefer. Then they wait for any of 10 WR’s to do well and they use that as evidence, nevermind that 5 of them were ineffective. Like demanding a coach be fired without naming a reasonable replacement.
Perriman, Dorsett, or Smith are three guys who would have added a big play threat to the receiver group
We use the term exactly a bit different, you’re still hedging. NFL GMs don’t get 3 players at each pick, they get one. If you’re going to offer commentery, at least go by the same standards.
From his pre-draft articles, I am pretty sure that Joe listed those WRs in order there for him. But, offering commentary does not necessitate delivering one specific instance. He mentioned WR and edge-rushers that he preferred. So, he may have rather gone Ray/D.Smith or Perriman/Gregory to taking Cameron and having to wait on one of these positions.
The commentary on Erving is all rooted in the philosophy of the pick. Joe had Ray higher than Erving, so he would probably still take him BPA, but he did not have any of the available WRs there higher than Cameron. So, suggesting a WR (in addition) notes that he would prefer a prioritization on need. That is a valid strategy/philosophy (as long as done in proportion). I personally disagree with that stance a bit especially in the early rounds. I prefer to lean heavily on BPA there and factor in needs for players with extremely close scores. Still, I see why he felt that way too.
Ray would have been my pick. Top 10 talent. Perriman was the other player I would have thought about because of need.