Who Is Cleveland Browns 4th-Round Pick Howard Wilson?

Cleveland Browns 4th-round pick Howard Wilson brings potential and upside to the CB position, but he most overcome inexperience.

The Browns traded up to get into the fourth round, trading picks 145  and 175 for picks 126 and 252 from the Denver Broncos.

One of the biggest needs this offseason for the Browns was in the secondary, and it surprised many that they only used one of their five picks in the first three rounds on secondary players (Jabrill Peppers).

The Browns decided they didn’t want to wait and risk losing their man, and they decided to move up and take a cornerback in Howard Wilson.

If there was one word to describe Howard Wilson, it would be ballhawk. Howard Wilson only had one season as a full-time starter, but he averaged one interception for every 15 targets (nine in all) while he was in college.

Also, this statistic from Pro Football Focus is something worth noting:

At 6-foot-1, 184 pounds, Wilson is now the tallest, lengthiest defensive back on the Browns roster. He has solid technique and shows a proclivity to make plays on the ball even when he’s out of range due to impressive burst and ball skills. The combination of these variables make him very effective in 50/50 situations.

Wilson is a heat-seeking missile in both the passing and running games, but he’s prone to over-pursue and get beat on occasion. However, when he guesses right, he’s capable of creating turnovers and making tackles in space.

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Wilson is very inexperienced, as he is only started for one full season. He missed most of the 2015 season with a torn ACL, and I’m assuming he checked out medically considering he went in the fourth round.

Howard Wilson is a very talented prospect and likely would have been a day 2 (or potentially even a day 1) selection if he would have stayed at Houston for another season, but his lack of experience means he will likely be brought along slowly by the coaching staff as they help him refine his technique and become more comfortable in NFL cover schemes.

Given the proper time to develop, Howard Wilson has the size, speed, length, and ball skills that make him a valuable commodity in today’s NFL. Expect to see him sparsely in 2017 playing out of the slot, and if he reaches his full potential, he’ll be a starting CB in the NFL with upside.

Next: Who Is Cleveland Browns 3rd-Round Pick DT Larry Ogunjobi?

In the fourth round, it’s worth it to bank on bank on potential. Howard Wilson has plenty of it.

Draft Grade: B