Cleveland Browns: Analytics lukewarm in grades of Browns’ draft picks

Pro Football Focus has its NFL Draft grades on the Cleveland Browns. Here’s how John Dorsey and the rest of the AFC North fared,

The Cleveland Browns have made their picks and now’s the time to dissect the moves made by general manager John Dorsey in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Analytically oriented website Pro Football Focus wasn’t thrilled with the Browns’ draft, giving the team a “average” grade for its selections. Grades of all 32 teams can be viewed here (subscription).

PFF grades team with the following,: Excellent, above average, average and below average.

1. The Browns started off strong by choosing analytics darling Greedy Williams. It was hailed as a “great value” pick because Williams was ninth on PFF’s big board and the Browns got him at 46. PFF called the pick “Highway robbery” to get him that late in the draft.

2. After that, PFF felt like the Browns reached for linebacker Sione Takitaki. Dorsey, obviously trusting his gut, drafted a player in a position of need who does something the Browns struggled mightily with in 2018: Tackling players on the run.

Takitaki drew rave reviews in this department, but none-the-less, it was hard for the analytically oriented site to get on board, considering he was chosen 80th overall, and they views him as their 109th best player.

3. The final day of the draft saw the Browns get a recognizable name in Mack Wilson, however, PFF was one of the few to correctly to view the Alabama product as a day three pick. PFF still viewed Wilson as a value pick, being taken No. 155 overall.

The rest of the AFC North

Analytics weren’t exactly in love with what the other teams in the AFC North, did, either, but graded out the Steelers as the best performers, much to the chagrin of Browns’ fans.

1. Pittsburgh did the best among AFC North teams in PFF’s eyes, gaining an “Above Average” grade. Not exactly scary, even considering the Steelers traded up to get Devin Bush to replace Ryan Shazier.

Analytics, as we learned from the experiment in Cleveland, is all about stockpiling picks. However, PFF supports the Steelers in the haul they gave up for Bush (Nos. 20 and 52 in 2019 and a a 2020 third rounder).

The website was also complimentary of the picks used to acquire wide receiver Diontae Johnson (Toledo product) and corner Justin Layne, a local product who played at Michigan State.

PFF was a little more critical of edge rusher Sutton Smith and defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs.

2. The Ravens also drew an average grade, although PFF loved the playmaking ability of Oklhaom’s Marquise Brown.

At 5-11, 166 pounds, Brown’s a small dude. With that said, he’s lightening fast.

PFF really likes him, which makes me think of Corey Coleman. He was another small, fast player with big playmaking abilities, and look how that turned out.

They were critical of edge rusher Jaylon Ferguson, taken in the second round, but applauded the pick of Myles Boykin in the third round. I agree with this one, I think the Ravens found a good prospect, considering the round.

Bengals

1. Another “Average” grade, The Bengals used their first pick to nab lineman Johnah Williams, who ranked fourth on PFF’s big board. Word on the street is the Bengals wanted Devin Bush, but the Steelers traded up to get their guy and prohibit Cincinnati from getting him.

2. The website was critical of the selection of tight end Drew Sample in the second round, basically calling the pick a huge reach. Sample, a. product of Washington, was ranked 192 on PFF’s big board.

3. The Bengals picked linebacker Germaine Pratt in the third round ,and while it wasn’t a big reach, Pff believes there were better off-the-ball linebackers available.