Cleveland Browns Signed Two Rookie Draft Picks
By Ryan Rosko
Two of the Cleveland Browns draft picks are now official members of the team.
Cleveland Browns beat writer Nate Ulrich has confirmed that two of the Cleveland Browns draft picks are now signed and both are from the Pac-12 Conference. Both wide receiver Jordan Payton and linebacker Scooby Wright have signed their rookie contracts.
Payton was a fifth-round selection out of UCLA, while Wright comes from the University of Arizona in the seventh round. Both players should have important roles this upcoming season.
Last season, Payton caught 78 passes for 1,105 yards and five touchdowns as a senior. That ability to produce will be needed to carry over to the NFL as a rookie. The Cleveland Browns are hurting for offensive talent, but the players who were recently drafted (including Payton) should help with that issue.
More from Cleveland Browns
- Are the Cleveland Browns a Top 10 roster heading into the 2023 season?
- There will be no more excuses for Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns in 2023
- There is hope that the Cleveland Browns land DeAndre Hopkins
- 4 reasons the Cleveland Browns may in fact land DeAndre Hopkins
- The Cleveland Browns need to rock some white helmets in 2023
Now, Payton, along with four other wide receivers certainly should help the offense in the fall, but more offense will be needed to be added. Not everyone drafted will make the necessary impact the Cleveland Browns are looking for.
Outside of first round selection wide receiver Corey Coleman out of Baylor University, Payton may be the next more intriguing among wide receivers. At 6’1 and over 200 pounds, he is one of many who helps in the taller wideout aspect.
Despite his production in college, I do not see him being among the top two or three players with the most receptions on the team long-term. With Coleman, Gary Barnidge, and others on the Browns roster it is possible that does not happen, but I would not hold my breath as it would be tough with the number of footballs being thrown around.
More from Factory of Sadness
- Bet $1 on ANYTHING to Unlock $200 Guaranteed with Crazy Bet365 Ohio Promo!
- 3 reasons why the Cleveland Cavaliers have a good shot to win the East next year
- It might be too soon to say it but it looks like the Cleveland Guardians are back
- Are the Cleveland Browns a Top 10 roster heading into the 2023 season?
- Eastern Conference Solidarity: Back the Heat with $5 Bet, Win $200 Bonus INSTANTLY with DraftKings Promo
One player who Payton can be compared to is Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jason Avant. That said, Payton is a better prospect than when Avant declared and should have a better career. Hopefully that belief stays true.
Wright, meanwhile, is one of the most popular late round Cleveland Browns draft picks in some time. The comparison of Wright to former Miami Dolphins star linebacker Zach Thomas is legit and is not going to go away.
Both are undersized at their position which helps the comparison, but there is much more than that. The way Wright tackles, sheds blocks, covers in space, and the way he goes after the quarterbacks shows very similar traits to Thomas.
Wright accomplished a lot in college. Had it not been for his knee injury, the list of achievements would have been much greater. He was voted ninth for the Heisman Trophy in 2014 and won the 2014 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Award and was a Consensus All American that same season. With many more achievements in between, Wright had a great collegiate career.
Next: Can The RBs Meet Expectations?
As long as there are no more issues with his knee, Wright should be a very talented player for the Cleveland Browns for many seasons. Combining where he was drafted, his skill set, and potential, we could look back a number of years from now and could possibly argue he was the steal of the draft.