Tag Archives: Draft

Browns, Draft, NFL

Browns Sign Thomas and Callaway

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Berea— The Cleveland Browns have come to terms on contracts with two more of their 2018 NFL draft selections as DE Chad Thomas and WR Antonio Callaway have signed their rookie deals.

The team now has six of their nine draft picks under contract.

Thomas, a defensive lineman from Miami (FL), was the Browns third round pick (67 overall). He started 33 games at the U where he totaled 103 tackles, 11 sacks, and two forced fumbles in his career.

Callaway, a talented yet troubled pass catcher from Florida, was the Browns fourth round selection (105 overall). When he was on the field he showed big time playmaking ability. During his college career he caught 89 passes for just under 1400 yards and scored seven touchdowns.

The remaining unsigned players for the Browns draft class are first round picks Baker Mayfield and Denzel Ward, as well as second round running back Nick Chubb.

Browns, NFL

Taylor Dealt to Arizona

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The Cleveland Browns have traded CB Jamar Taylor to the Arizona Cardinals for a sixth-round draft pick.

Taylor, a 2013 second-round choice by the Miami Dolphins, was acquired by Cleveland in a trade that saw them deal the 223rd selection in the 2016 NFL Draft for Taylor and the 250th pick.

With the addition of the 5-foot-11, 192 pound Taylor, the Cardinals instantly gain an experienced corner to a roster in need of just that. He will likely battle to start across from perennial All-Pro CB Patrick Peterson.

Taylor, 27, started 29 games for the Browns over the last two seasons , tallying three interceptions.

With the off-season signings of cornerbacks EJ Gaines, Terrance Mitchell, and TJ Carrie, and the selection of Denzel Ward with the fourth pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Taylor was likely the odd man out and probably would not have made the Browns final roster out of training camp.

This is the third trade made by new GM John Dorsey that saw him get value in return for a player that would have likely been cut before the season when you factor in the trades of quarterbacks Kevin Hogan and Cody Kessler to Washington and Jacksonville respectively.

Browns, Draft, NFL

Browns Get Avery Under Contract

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The Cleveland Browns have signed LB Genard Avery.

Avery, a fifth-round pick out of Memphis, played in 50 career games, starting 34 of them. The 150th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft recorded 232 career tackles with 45.5 of them for a loss.

He is expected to be an immediate contributor on special teams and could work his way to a regular member of the Browns defense as well.

The Browns have now signed four of their 2018 draft picks, as Avery joins OT Austin Corbett (second round), WR Damion Ratley (sixth round), and CB Simeon Thomas (sixth round) as picks under contract.

Browns, Draft, NFL

Browns Add 13 Undrafted Free Agents

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The Cleveland Browns have announced the signings of 13 undrafted free agents.

The list includes three wide outs, three offensive lineman, three defensive backs, two defensive lineman, a running back, as well as a punter.

The 13 rookies will join the rest of the teams rookies from the 2018 NFL Draft at rookie mini camp which runs from May 4-6.

The list of undrafted free agents can be found below.

Evan Berry

WR

5-11

202

11/4/95

Tennessee

Fairburn, Ga.

Elijah Campbell

DB

5-11

190

8/24/95

Northern Iowa

St. Paul, Minn.

Michael Carrizosa

P

5-10

227

9/18/95

San Jose State

Salinas, Calif.

Christian Dilauro

OL

6-6

300

11/11/94

Illinois

Uniontown, Ohio

Daniel Ekuale

DL

6-3

300

1/13/94

Washington State

Pago Pago, American Samoa

Micah Hannemann

DB

6-0

195

8/15/94

BYU

Alpine, Utah

Desmond Harrison

OL

6-6

295

10/8/93

West Georgia

Houston, Texas

Dontrell Hilliard

RB

5-11

202

2/26/95

Tulane

Baton Rouge, La.

Fred Lauina

OL

6-4

315

5/17/95

Oregon State

Nuuuli, American Samoa

Montrel Meander

DB

6-2

215

9/20/94

Grambling State

Amarillo, Texas

Da’Mari Scott

WR

6-0

205

8/8/95

Fresno State

Muskegon Heights, Mich.

Trenton Thompson

DL

6-3

288

7/27/96

Georgia

Albany, Ga.

Derrick Willies

WR

6-4

207

10/17/94

Texas Tech

San Bernadino, Calif.

Browns, Draft, NFL

Browns Select Denzel Ward with Fourth Pick

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DALLAS— With the fourth pick in the 2018 NFL Draft the Cleveland Browns selected Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward.

Ward, a native of Macedonia, Ohio recorded 37 tackles and two interceptions for the Buckeyes in 2017. Seen by many as the top press corner in this years draft, Ward will be an instant starter in the Browns revamped secondary.

At 5’10” and 185 pounds, Ward ran a 4.32 yard 40-yard dash at this years combine. Ward is physical, athletic, and is excellent at not allowing receivers to get separation in routes.

On a team that has not had a shutdown corner since Joe Haden was healthy a few years ago, Ward will be a welcome addition.

Browns, Draft, NFL

Browns Make Baker the Number One Pick

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DALLAS— With the first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns have selected Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield.

The 6’1″ 215 pound Mayfield, who went from walk on to Heisman trophy winner during his time in Norman, is the most accurate quarterback in this draft class. He completed 70.6% of his passes in his senior season while throwing for 43 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also set the NCAA single season passing efficiency rating with a 198.90 mark while leading the Sooners to the Rose Bowl.

Outside of all of the stats, Mayfield excels as a leader on the field and lifts the play of those around him and that is exactly what GM John Dorsey hopes that he will do as a member of the Cleveland Browns.

Other than his size, the downside to Mayfield is that some question his maturity and attitude. He was arrested on February 25, 2017 and was charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct, fleeing and resisting arrest. However, for Dorsey and the Browns to select him number one overall, they clearly can see past his old mistakes.

The Browns next selection is the fourth overall selection in the first round which they received from Houston in the Deshaun Watson trade during the 2017 NFL Draft.

Browns, Draft, NFL

2018 NFL Draft Positional Rankings: Defense

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*All rankings final and based upon at least three watched games as well as combine and pro days.

EDGE

  1. Bradley Chubb, NC State
  2. Harold Landry, Boston College
  3. Marcus Davenport, UTSA
  4. Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
  5. Josh Sweat, Florida State

Interior D-Line

  1. Maurice Hurst, Michigan
  2. Vita Vea, Washington
  3. Da’Ron Payne, Alabama
  4. Taven Bryan, Florida
  5. Harrison Phillips, Stanford

Linebacker

  1. Roquan Smith, Georgia
  2. Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
  3. Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State
  4. Rashaan Evans, Alabama
  5. Micah Kiser, Virginia

Cornerback

  1. Denzel Ward, Ohio State
  2. Jaire Alexander, Louisville
  3. Josh Jackson, Iowa
  4. Mike Hughes, UCF
  5. Carlton Davis, Auburn

Safety

  1. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
  2. Derwin James, Florida State
  3. Ronnie Harrison, Alabama
  4. Jessie Bates II, Wake Forest
  5. Justin Reid, Stanford
Browns, Draft, NFL

2018 NFL Draft Positional Rankings: Offense

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*All rankings final and based upon at least three watched games as well as combine and pro days.

Quarterback

  1. Baker Mayfield,Oklahoma
  2. Sam Darnold, USC
  3. Josh Rosen, UCLA
  4. Lamar Jackson, Louisville
  5. Josh Allen

Running Back

  1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State
  2. Derrius Guice, LSU
  3. Ronald Jones II, USC
  4. Nick Chubb, Gerogia
  5. Sony Michel, Georgia

Wide Receiver

  1. DJ Moore, Maryland
  2. Courtland Sutton, SMU
  3. Calvin Ridley, Alabama
  4. Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
  5. Anthony Miller, Memphis

Tight End

  1. Mike Gesicki, Penn State
  2. Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State
  3. Hayden Hurst, South Carolina
  4. Mark Andrews, Oklahoma
  5. Troy Fumagali, Wisconsin

Tackle

  1. Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
  2. Connor Williams, Texas
  3. Tyrell Crosby, Oregon
  4. Kolton Miller, UCLA
  5. Orlando Brown, Oklahoma

Interior O-Line

  1. Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
  2. James Daniels, Iowa
  3. Isaiah Wynn, Georgia
  4. Will Hernandez, UTEP
  5. Billy Price, Ohio State
Browns, Draft, NFL

OAB 365 Final 2018 NFL Mock Draft

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  1. Cleveland Browns- QB Sam Darnold, USC- Dorsey loves raw talent and Darnold has a ton of it. He can make all the throws and do so from any platform, but will he be able to develop into the franchise QB the Browns have so desperately needed?
  2. New York Giants– DE Bradley Chubb, NC State- Saquon Barkley is an option here but running back is no longer a premium position in the NFL. Passers, those who protect them, and those that get to them are the premier spots on a roster. Chubb is the best at getting to the QB in this draft.
  3. New York Jets– QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma- In my opinion Baker is the best QB in this draft. He can make all the throws, is insanely accurate, and knows how to lead a team.
  4. *TRADE* Buffalo Bills– QB Josh Rosen, UCLA- With Chubb off the board Dorsey trades the fourth pick to Buffalo for picks 12,22, and 53 this year and the Bills number one pick in 2019. The Bills then fill their QB position with the most polished passer in the draft in Rosen.
  5. Denver Broncos– CB Denzel Ward, Ohio State- After dealing Aqib Talib to the Rams this offseason, John Elway grabs a young and talented replacement to keep the Broncos defense strong.
  6. Indianapolis Colts– LB Roquan Smith, Georgia- The Colts need talent all over their roster and with Andrew Luck (hopefully) as the leader of their offense, the grab Smith to be their defensive stud. He is a heat seeking missile.
  7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- RB Saquon Barkley, Penn State- Tampa gets Jameis some help in the backfield with the player many feel is the best in this draft.
  8. Chicago Bears– OG Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame- The Bears got their franchise QB in 2017 and will focus on protecting him with the most can’t miss prospect of 2018 in Nelson. Nelson is a monster who will likely visit the Pro Bowl on a regular basis.
  9. San Francisco 49ers– S Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama- With their franchise QB locked up, the Niners begin this draft by building their defense up. Fitzpatrick is a safety who can cover and blitz and will be a big player in the back end of the San Fran D.
  10. Oakland Raiders– LB Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech- The Raiders are in the market for more talent at LB and Edmunds has a ton of it. He is an instant upgrade for their defense and can make an immediate impact for Gruden and the boys.
  11. Miami Dolphins– S Derwin James, Florida State- James can play at all three levels of a defense. He can cover tight ends, blitz, tackle, and do anything a coordinator asks. He will be a versatile star in South Beach
  12. Cleveland Browns- EDGE Harold Landry, Boston College- After trading down the Browns get their hands on the second best edge rushing prospect in this draft in Landry. The mix of Landry, Emmanuel Ogbah, and last years number one overall pick Myles Garrett should give AFC North QB’s nightmares for years to come.
  13. Washington Redskins- DT Vita Vea, Washington- The Redskins need help on the defensive line and were terrible against the run last year. Vea should be able to come in and help them against some tough running backs in the NFC East.
  14. *TRADE* New England Patriots- OT Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame- The Patriots trade up to get a new book end tackle to help the ageless Tom Brady stay upright and the Packers add a second round pick while dropping to 23.
  15. Arizona Cardinals– QB Josh Allen, Wyoming- With Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon on the roster, there is little hope for the future of the position. Allen is big, athletic, and has a cannon on his arm. He is inaccurate but given the proper amount of time to master an offense, he may be able to hide that.
  16. Baltimore Ravens– QB Lamar Jackson, Louisville- Joe Flacco is a shell of his Super Bowl self and Jackson is an athletic freak who played in a system with a lot of pro style concepts at Louisville. If Baltimore can build the offense around him, he could be a star.
  17. Los Angeles Chargers– DL Da’Ron Payne, Alabama- Payne adds another monster o the Chargers already very talented defensive line and will help stop the run.
  18. Seattle Seahawks- WR DJ Moore, Maryland- Moore is an instant upgrade to the Seahawks WR core. He is big, fast, and strong and in time will make a great duo with Russ Wilson.
  19. Dallas Cowboys– WR Courtland Sutton, WR SMU- The redshirt junior is a deep threat and a redzone specialist who can fill the void of the departed Dez Bryant. He will need to get quicker off the ball and focus on separation but he could be a steal
  20. Detroit Lions- EDGE Marcus Davenport, UTSA- The Lions need to get stronger on the defensive line and grabbing a guy who can come off the edge like Davenport who can start instantly across from Ziggy Ansah.
  21. Cincinnati Bengals– C James Daniels, Iowa- The Bengals need to get stronger on the interior line and drafting a player of Daniels caliber is a great step in the right direction. It may not be a flashy pick but it is the right call here for Cincy.
  22. Cleveland Browns– CB Jaire Alexander, Louisville- Alexander is an instant starter in this draft and gives the Browns the number one CB they’ve been missing since Joe Haden’s healthier days.
  23. Green Bay Packers-CB Josh Jackson, Iowa- The Packers trade back and still upgrade their secondary with one of the best prospects in this draft. Jackson should be able to fill the massive void in the Green Bay secondary from day one.
  24. Carolina Panthers– TE Mike Gesicki, Penn State- Gesicki is a freak. He can split wide or play on the line and give Cam another option in the passing game.
  25. Tennessee Titans– WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama- After Corey Davis and Rishard Matthews the Titans wide outs are sketchy at best. Ridley can step in immediately as a deep threat and make a difference.
  26. Atlanta Falcons– DL Maurice Hurts, Michigan- Hurst is a monster on the defensive line who can get to the QB and will be a welcome addition on the Falcons roster.
  27. New Orleans Saints– TE Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State- Benjamin Watson isn’t getting younger and Goedert is an all around good tight end who is smooth and athletic and has very good hands. He can help instantly and also fill a void for the future.
  28. Pittsburgh Steelers– LB Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State- Vander Esch is big, strong, and athletic and can help fill the Ryan Shazier sized void for the Steelers instantly.
  29. Jacksonville Jaguars– LB Rashaan Evans, Alabama- Paul Posluszny retired this offseason, leaving a void in the vaunted Jags defense. Evans lives in the backfield and is extremely instinctive and should be able to start immediately.
  30. Minnesota Vikings– C Billy Price, Ohio State- Price is talented enough to come in and start at guard and fill an immediate void for the Vikings. He can play all three interior line spots.
  31. New England Patriots– QB Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State- After getting their left tackle earlier in the first round, the Pats grab the heir apparent to Tom Brady with Rudolph. He doesn’t have the strongest arm but is more than accurate enough to step in and learn from the future first ballot hall of famer and become the future of the Patriots for years to come.
  32. Philadelphia Eagles– RB Derrius Guice, LSU- An instinctive wrecking ball of a ball of a back to add to an already talented backfield for the world champs. Guice may be the best RB in this draft when all is said and done.

Round Two

33. Cleveland Browns- OT Connor Williams, Texas

34. New York Giants- RB Ronald Jones II, USC

35. Cleveland Browns- DL Taven Bryan, Florida

 

Browns, Draft, NFL

2018 NFL Draft QB Rankings

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*Rankings are made based on watching three full games on each quarterback from the past two seasons

1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma 6’0 215

Mayfield is one of the most decorated quarterbacks in NCAA history. All this coming after being a walk on at Texas Tech who would later transfer to Oklahoma where he became a legend, a Heisman winner, a Davey O’Brien award winner, a Maxwell Award winner, and a Big 12 champion. In case you missed that, Mayfield is a winner.

His lack of size held him back from getting serious college looks, but the size of his heart, will, and leadership were overlooked, and NFL teams cannot afford to make the same mistake college coaches did. Often compared to Johnny Manziel by those who don’t take the time to watch him, Mayfield is a firey competitor who is much more Philip Rivers than Johnny Football.

Adding to his leadership, heart, and will, Mayfield is the most accurate quarterback in this draft. His ball placement, as well as above average arm strength, mixed with his leadership characteristics are what truly sets him apart for me and is the reason he has maintained the number one spot in my QB rankings.

Pro Comparison: Philip Rivers

2. Josh Rosen, UCLA 6’4″ 226

Much like Baker, Rosen is often misunderstood. He has been mentioned as uncoachable due to an issue with Trent Dilfer at the Elite 11 camp and others have questioned his love of the game of football. While not the leader of men that Mayfield is, the off the field questions with Rosen seem strange to me. He is his own man and expects perfection from him self. He is much more Peyton Manning in that aspect than an uncoachable football hater.

Rosen demonstrates great footwork and excellent touch and accuracy with the football. The biggest issue with Rosen is that he does tend to force things at times when the pocket breaks down as he tries to do to much with the football. This causes poor throws and bad decisions. If he can learn to trust those around him, Rosen has all of the skills to be the best quarterback in this draft.

Pro Comparison: Matt Ryan

3. Sam Darnold, USC, 6’4 220

Darnold is possibly the cleanest prospect in this quarterback class. No off the field worries. Outside of his turnovers, he looks great on tape. But for me, he is not yet as polished a passer as Rosen or Mayfield.

Darnold has great size, accuracy, ball placement, and is very athletic. The only downside to Darnold is the rate in which he turns the ball over. He had 13 interceptions and nine fumbles in 2017 and has 20 interceptions in his last 20 college games. Part of the reason for his turnovers may be his elongated delivery which at times may allow defenders to make a break on the ball and cause the interceptions.

In a few years, Darnold may be the best quarterback in this class. His ability to anticipate throws and see guys open is the one thing that he is far better at than anyone else in this class. A season on the bench would do him wonders, but like Rosen and Mayfield I believe he is good enough to take the field immediately.

Pro Comparison: Tony Romo

4. Lamar Jackson, Louisville, 6’3 200

Lamar Jackson is the most elite playmaker in this draft. He ran for more yards than Saquon Barkley and won the Heisman in 2016. He is a home run threat with his arm and his legs.

Jackson throws the ball with ease and elite velocity. However, it does not always go where he wants it to. His accuracy is average at best. The biggest downside with Jackson is that his god given abilities are so good that he some times relies on them rather than staying true to technique, thus allowing the ball to sail and for him to bail on plays rather than take what the defense is giving him.

If a team is willing to build an offense around him and work on his technique, Jackson can be a superstar in the NFL.

Pro Comparison: Michael Vick

5. Josh Allen, Wyoming 6’5″ 235

Wow. Allen’s arm is incredible. He can sling the ball with ease. He is also the prototypical size you want in an NFL quarterback. He also has above average athleticism which allows him to make plays when the pocket breaks down.

Allen is the biggest boom or bust prospect in this draft. He could grow to be an amazing NFL passer or he could fizzle out in a few years. His arm strength is off the charts, he can throw far, he can throw hard, but it does not always go where he needs it to. He has an issue of not resetting his base and relies solely on his rocket arm which causes the ball to sail and fly all around the field. He has never had an accuracy percentage above 56%.

Very few quarterbacks become more accurate once reaching the NFL, Matt Stafford is the last one that comes to mind. While Allen could eventually become like Stafford or Ben Roethlisberger, a team is going to need to be patient with him.

Pro Comparison: DeShone Kizer

Others:

6. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State

7. Mike White, Western Kentucky

8. Luke Falk, Washington State

9. Kyle Lauletta, Richmond

10. Kurt Benkert, Virgina

Browns, Draft

Pre Free Agency 2018 NFL Mock Draft

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  1. Cleveland Browns- QB Josh Rosen, UCLA
  2. New York Giants-RB Saquon Barkley, Penn State
  3. Indianapolis Colts- DE Bradley Chubb, NC St.
  4. Cleveland Browns- DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
  5. Denver Broncos- QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
  6. New York Jets- QB Sam Darnold, USC
  7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- CB Denzel Ward, Ohio State
  8. Chicago Bears- OG Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
  9. San Francisco 49ers- LB Roquan Smith, Georgia
  10. Oakland Raiders- LB Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
  11. Miami Dolphins- S Derwin James, Florida State
  12. Cincinnati Bengals- OT Connor Williams, Texas
  13. Washington Redskins- RB Derrius Guice, LSU
  14. Green Bay Packers- TE Mike Gesicki, Penn State
  15. Arizona Cardinals- QB Josh Allen, Wyoming
  16. Baltimore Ravens- WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama
  17. Los Angeles Chargers- DL Da’Ron Payne, Alabama
  18. Seattle Seahawks- OT Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
  19. Dallas Cowboys- WR Courtland Sutton, WR SMU
  20. Detroit Lions- EDGE Harold Landry, Boston College
  21. Buffalo Bills- OT Kolton Miller, UCLA
  22. Buffalo Bills-QB Lamar Jackson, Louisville
  23. Los Angeles Rams-EDGE Marcus Davenport, UTSA
  24. Carolina Panthers- S Ronnie Harrison, Alabama
  25. Tennessee Titans- DT Taven Bryan, Florida
  26. Atlanta Falcons- CB Josh Jackson, Iowa
  27. New Orleans Saints- DE Arden Key, LSU
  28. Pittsburgh Steelers- LB Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State
  29. Jacksonville Jaguars- TE Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State
  30. Minnesota Vikings- DL Maurice Hurst, Michigan
  31. New England Patriots- QB Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
  32. Philadelphia Eagles- EDGE Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
Browns, Draft, NFL

Browns Sign Njoku

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The Cleveland Browns announced that they have  signed first-round pick TE David Njoku to his four-year rookie contract on Thursday. 

The Browns have now signed nine of their 10 2017 draft picks, including DL Myles Garrett (first round), QB DeShone Kizer (second round), DL Larry Ogunjobi (third round), DB Howard Wilson (fourth round), OL Rod Johnson (fifth round), DL Caleb Brantley (sixth round), K Zane Gonzalez (seventh round) and RB Matthew Dayes (seventh round). Only first round selection Jabril Peppers remains unsigned. 

Njoku, the 29th selection overall in the 2017 NFL draft, played 26 career games at Miami (Fl) and finished his career with 1060 yards on 64 catches. He is expected to challenge for immediate playing time on the Browns offense.