Mel Kiper’s Grade ‘A’ Draft for the Cleveland Browns (3 Rounds)

"Round 3 (71) S Ed Reynolds, Stanford"

Not with this pick. Reynolds is a ball hawk type safety that should pair nicely with Donte Whitner. Mike Pettine’s defense thrives with safeties who can play sideline to sideline in coverage and Reynolds seems to have that ability. What say Kiper:

"Reynolds is the range safety I need to pair with Donte Whitner…"

So he paired up Whitner with a young starter beside him but has yet to pair up Gordon with a starter beside him. Maybe he thinks the team should of signed a receiver in free agency, or maybe he thinks they can find a gem later in the draft.

"Round 3 (83) RB De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon (from PIT)"

A very interesting pick indeed to end Kiper’s ‘A’ draft for the Browns leads to them having the versatile weapon in Thomas, or DAT as many know him as. DAT showed a great deal of speed on film at Oregon but didn’t show that at the Combine. At the Combine he ran a 4.5 40 yard dash. He greatly improved that with reported times of 4.34 and 4.37 at his Pro Day on a fast surface at Oregon. Somewhere in the middle is probably the truth which should push him down a bit in the draft. Thomas can lineup in the backfield as well as at receiver and make noise. He isn’t the big bodied player that many want as a #2 WR but can provide a spark for the team. What was Kiper thinking:

"and Thomas gives me a return element and a low-touches but valuable decoy element in the offense."

Third round is pretty high for a return guy and decoy. Surprised that was the description he gave for taking Thomas so high. In comparison he has Carlos Hyde, of The Ohio State Buckeyes, going 10th in the second round to the Raiders.

Would you give Kiper’s draft an ‘A’ grade? Why do you think he would? What makes this draft for you? What breaks this draft for you?