NFL Draft: Five players the Cleveland Browns should look at in the later rounds

The Cleveland Browns can’t afford to only hit on their top picks in the NFL Draft, late-round players need to pan out for this team to turn it around fast.

The NFL Draft is usually filled with busts and underperforming talent throughout the early picks. It’s imperative that when you step into the Draft room to start picking talent that you make sure those late-round picks land. If those late-round picks are treated without the respect they deserve, then you end up relying on a team with only one or two rookies to build upon.

According to a 2015 article, more than 40% of the 2014 NFL starters came from rounds four through seven, or via undrafted rookie free agents. In a 2018 article, it’s reported that first-round picks only have a 53% rate of success. If you don’t think the Draft matters beyond the third round, and if you don’t think those late-round picks are valuable, you’re a fool.

Finding success in the later rounds is imperative. Think about that, nearly 40% of the league’s starters came in the later rounds, with nearly 14% of that sum coming via rookie free agents. Being good at drafting and scouting talent beyond the first few rounds has to be a priority. Especially with the Browns, who have just so many holes that need to be filled. That’s why it’s so important for people to keep in mind these later rounds, because it’s more than likely that 30%-40% of the Browns starters will be taken in these later rounds at some point, during some year.

So let’s take a look at some talent the Browns should look at in the last day of the Draft and beyond.