Cleveland Browns: 2018 Mock Draft post-combine edition
By Ryan Rosko
33. player. 53. . RB. Oregon. Royce Freeman
Royce Freeman already has good tape. Following the 2018 NFL Combine where he also was impressive, Freeman’s draft stock increased.
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Cleveland is going to need to use multiple draft picks on the running game if they don’t add to it in free agency. After all, the Browns’ current running backs could use the added help. Matthew Dayes did not have much of an opportunity to do much as a rookie last year and Duke Johnson is a hybrid who arguably could be best used more as a receiver.
Assuming those two backs’ roles continue as-is, Freeman’s skill-set would be a welcomed commodity in the backfield. The 947 carries over his four seasons at Oregon may scare off some teams but with the right approach, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Earlier this year, FoS’ Sam Penix wrote up a scouting report on Freeman.
With that in mind, if Cleveland were to bypass adding two running backs this offseason, hopefully, Dayes is used more this fall.
"Freeman doesn’t have game-breaking speed, but he is fast enough to where he will not be caught from behind. He is a decisive runner; when he sees a hole, he will explode through it, not wasting time dancing around in the backfield."
By adding Freeman and not banking on Dayes in 2018 and maybe beyond, the former Oregon Duck is the thunder to Johnson’s lightning.
Although it is not official, starting running back Isaiah Crowell is as good as gone. Whenever he does decide to sign elsewhere, his indecisiveness going through a hole won’t be missed. With both Barkley and LSU running back Derrius Guice already drafted, this is the best replacement (which may be underrated in a bit) and fit the Browns could ask for.