Cleveland Browns reaction: Mel Kiper grades Browns’ 2019 NFL Draft picks
ESPN Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. gave the Cleveland Browns rave reviews during the 2019 NFL Draft. Here’s how the Browns graded out.
The Cleveland Browns had a relatively quiet 2019 NFL Draft considering the organization didn’t have any draft picks, but that didn’t stop draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. from showering the team with love.
Kiper graded all 32 teams and gave the Browns an “A-” for a draft that yielded eight new players,
Kiper ultimately concluded the Browns couldn’t be given a grade without considering their swap of the 17th overall pick for Odell Beckham Jr. The longtime draft savant wrote OBJ was, at the least, worth a half letter-grade bump.
Most of John.Dorsey’s picks were met with approval, while he soured on the selection of Oklahoma kicker Austin Seibert in the fifth round. He wrote the fifth round is too early to take a kicker and that Seifert carried an undrafted grade heading into the weekend.
Kiper is spot on lumping OBJ into the draft grade. Ask yourself this: Whom would you rather have? OBJ, or the draft field? I think it’s Beckham and it’s not a hard call to make.
Other notes from Kiper’s grades:
• He loved the selection of Greedy Williams and views him as a starter opposite Denzel Ward. Hard not see Williams at least being in competition with Terrance Mitchell.
• Found it interesting he didn’t pull the “reach” card for BYU’s Sione Takitaki. In Kiper’s eyes, Takitacki could have a shot to fill the SAM backer void created when the Browns cut Jamie Collins earlier in the offseason.
• Mack Wilson‘s selection was praised, too, as Kiper had the Alabama product as his third best inside linebacking prospect.
With Wilson there’s clearly a big game between on the NFL feels about him, and how the media views him. Wilson was viewed mostly as a second-round pick by prognosticators. However, he didn’t just fall to the third or fifth rounds, he went in the fifth.
There’s something about his game that general managers agreed on enough as to not make him pick in rounds one through four.
• The Steelers were given a B+, and like many, Kiper raved over their selection of Devin Bush. Does anyone remember anything he did against Ohio State in The Game this past season. The same could be said of Jabrill Peppers. He was just another guy on the field when his Wolvernies traveled to The ‘Shoe in 2016. Far from an impact player.
Baker Mayfield, however, was mesmerizing at Ohio Stadium. The way he moved his feet around the pocket and avoided Ohio State rushers. Until that time, I hadn’t seen anything like it, in person,
• The Ravens were also given a “B+” with the selection of Marquise Brown, Kiper’s top receiver in the draft. I just can’t get over how he’s 5-9, 166 pounds. “But he’s fast!” So was Travis Benjamin. Would you go back in time and take The Rabbit in the first Rond?
dark. Next. Analytics not in love with the Browns' draft
• The Bengals matched the Browns with an “A-“. They didn’t make a big splash, but scored a lineman in Johnah Wiilliams that will great add to a depleted offensive line. They also drafted Buckeyes’ center Michael Jordan in the later rounds. He’ll join former Ohio State center Billy Price on the line.