Cleveland Browns close out 3rd round with linebacker Jacob Phillips

The Cleveland Browns shored up their defense on day two by drafting Jacob Phillips of LSU with their last pick in the third round

The Cleveland Browns at pick No. 97 go defense once again with LSU linebacker Jacob Phillips, making each of the first four picks the Browns took in the 2020 NFL Draft former SEC players. Phillips will look to earn a starting spot in a linebacking corps that includes Sione Takitaki and Mack Wilson. The Browns could still get a free agent veteran to come and start but as of right now the Browns are looking at a young corp of guys.

Browns fans will be upset once again to a degree, because like with Antoine Winfield in the second round, the Browns passed up another Ohio-prospect in Malik Harrison, a linebacker from Ohio State. The decision to distance the Browns from any Ohio prospects will perplex fans until the players drafted by the team can cement themselves as the better picks. If that ever happens.

Phillips joins Jordan Elliott a tackle from Missouri and LSU safety Grant Delpit who went in the second round on the defensive side of the ball. No. 10 overall player Jedrick Wills, an offensive tackle out of Alabama, went on the first day for the Browns.

Elliott was a bit of a steal according to where Pro Football Focus had him ranked but in the case of Phillips, it looks like he was a bit of a reach. They graded him out at a 65.5 and had him ranked at No. 184 overall in the draft.

Browns’ fans will be ok with all of these picks if they pan out, but if the OSU guys end up outperforming the SEC talent, then fans will forever reject Andrew Berry and his thought process for drafting. As of right now, Phillips fills a need the team had but as he was a bit of a reach, that will hurt his grade.

Grade: B-