Cleveland Browns: Mack Wilson ‘Looking like steal in 5th round’
Despite falling all the way into the 5th round of the NFL Draft, new Cleveland Browns LB Mack Wilson might be looking like a steal, according to one writer.
Finding linebackers was a major need for the Cleveland Browns entering April’s draft, and general manager John Dorsey addressed the position in the third and fifth rounds with the selections of Sione Takitaki and Mack Wilson, respectively.
Takitaki was not a name known to Browns fans, but early reports suggest he might be an exciting talent. Wilson on the other hand, was well known, playing for Nick Saban’s powerhouse at Alabama.
Entering the draft, Wilson was thought to be in play for the Browns when they made their first choice in the second round. Dorsey passed, taking Greedy Williams, instead. Every other team passed on Wilson too, until the Browns finally turned a card in with his name on on Day 3.
That Wilson fell from a projected second-round pick to the fifth-round is concerning. He was passed over by every team for four rounds. Casual fans just assumed he was good because he played for the Crimson Tide. Talent evaluators thought differently.
Fortunately, Wilson stood out at the Browns’ recent minicamp. He’s impressed the coaching staff, according to Cleveland.com writer Mary Kay Cabot, who wrote the following:
"“…Takitaki and Mack Wilson have also impressed the coaching staff, and will make their presence felt in camp. Currently, it’s Schobert and Kirskey when the Browns are in the nickel, but Takitaki will likely make a strong case to be one of two ‘backers in sub-defenses. Wilson is starting to look like a steal in the fifth-round, and could siphon some reps from the veterans.”"
Minicamp is padless, so everyone is left to evaluate what’s basically glorified flag football, but good news is better than bad, right?
When the Browns were in their three-linebacker scheme, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks ran with Christian Kirksey, Joe Schobert, and first-year Brown Adarius Taylor. The Browns also used a lot of three-safety looks, and deployed Kirksey and Schobert at linebacker in this scheme.
Did everyone miss on Wilson, letting him fall to the back end of the draft? We won’t truly know until the pads come on, but the Browns could certainly use some luck on the tickets Takitaki and Wilson tickets they bought.
Schobert is looking for a contract extension and it’s unclear how the Browns feel about giving big money to the former third-round pick knowing they’re going to have to allocate major dollars to other cornerstone plays in the not-to-distant-future.
Kirksey is a veteran who was injured last season, however when he played, he wasn’t exactly a game changer.
Next. Mock Draft; Cavs trade down, end up with 3 first-rounders. dark
At the very least, consider there hadn’t been any positive news on Wilson he became a Brown, so this nugget is welcoming and will make his storyline worth following at Training Camp.