Complete NFL Draft grades for the Cleveland Browns (and 31 other teams)

NFC North

Chicago – TE Cole Kmet (Notre Dame), CB Jaylon Johnson (Utah), OLB/DE Trevis Gipson (Tulsa), CB Kindle Vildor (Georgia Southern), WR Darnell Mooney (Tulane), OT Arlington Hambright (Colorado), IL Lachavious Simmons. (Tenn State)

ESPN reported that the Bears have 10 tight ends. Ten. T-e-n. They have two over-paid quarterbacks on their roster, both of whom are going to try to start for the team and despite being the fourth-worst offense in 2019 spent a majority of their early draft picks on defensive players. Despite all the talking points Trey Wingo was dispensing, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh rounders aren’t game-changers, for the most part. They’re backups, special teams, and even at times, practice squad guys.

Chicago needed to make more of an impact to improve their offense. Cole Kmet should be a future Pro Bowler, but the Bears had a top ten defense last year, to ignore such a need to add to something already so strong is puzzling. They are the Raiders of the NFC North.

Grade: D+

Detroit – CB Jeff Okudah (OSU), RB D’Andre Swift (Georgia), OLB Julian Okwara (Notre Dame), IL Jonah Jackson (OSU), IL Logan Stenberg (Kentucky), WR Quintez Cephus (Wisconsin), RB Jason Huntley (New Mexico State), DT John Penisini (Utah), DT Jashon Cornell (OSU)

For a defensive back, Jeff Okudah is as good of a prospect as you can find. The defense should be much improved with his addition and Julian Okwara. The line should be much better as Jonah Jackson and Logan Stenberg should be starters coming out of camp. While the Jason Huntley pick was good, they had already picked up D’Andre Swift and the team needed more help in the secondary.

Quintez Cephus and John Penisini are later round guys who could be really intriguing to watch develop. Sure, they might not even make the team this year, but if they can improve and produce, that would be something special for this class. Getting two running backs was a mistake, even if both are talented. Optimize your selections better.
Grade: B

Minnesota – WR Justin Jefferson (LSU), CB Jeff Gladney (TCU), OT Ezra Cleveland (Boise State), CB Cameron Dantzler (Mississippi State), DE D.J. Wonnum (South Carolina), DT James Lynch (Baylor), LB Troy Dye (Oregon), CB Harrison Hand (Temple), WR K.J. Osborn (Miami), OT Blake Brandel (Oregon State), SAF Josh Metellus (Michigan), Kenney Willekes (Mich State), QB Nate Stanley (Iowa), SAF Brian Cole II (Miss State), IL Kyle Hinton (Washburn University)

Gotta love this draft. The first four players taken are starting-caliber prospects. The love affair I have with Ezra Cleveland can’t be stressed enough. He’s a great prospect. Then you have so much good and promising late-round picks to round out a strong first four.

If K.J. Osborn or Blake Brandel can get time as rookies and play well, then they’ll be starters for a long time. Josh Metellus was one of the few impressive things about Michigan last year and it’s hard for anyone to say that about Michigan. The steal for them might have been Kenney Willekes. The kid plays so much like former Viking Jared Allen it’s uncanny. He’s fighting to just make the team, however, not just a starting spot. If he can improve and get more physical, he could be someone really interesting.

Grade: A-

Green Bay – QB Jordan Love (Utah State), RB A.J. Dillion (Boston College), TE Josiah Deguara (Cinncinati), ILB Kamal Martin (Minnesota), IL Jon Runyan Jr (Michigan), IL Jake Hanson (Packers), IL Simon Stepaniak (Indiana), SAF Vernon Scott (TCU), DE Jonathan Garvin (Miami U)

The offensive line picks were good, love Jon Runyan Jr. He, Jake Hanson, and Simon Stepaniak could be starters eventually. Yet, there’s something missing, where are the receivers? Yes, Josiah Deguara is a great tight end prospect. Yes, you did put a few new linemen into play for Aaron Rodgers to use to shield him from hits. Yet, you got three new linemen who probably aren’t going to be starters for a year or two, and if they are, won’t be as good as they will be down the road. You also wasted a pick on a running back, a position where you already have a pretty good one.

Jordan Love might be good, yet many said that he was the fourth or fifth-best quarterback in the draft. After he got selected everyone was immediately comparing him to Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers was thought of as the best quarterback in his draft, alongside Alex Smith. They were 1A and 1B. Love was maybe 5A. At best.

No, this was a draft designed to tell Rodgers to pound salt, so in that respect, you did just that. Because Rodgers isn’t talking about retirement, unlike Brett Favre did when Rodgers was drafted, to draft like Rodgers is out the door is counterproductive to your teams broadcasted forecast for 2020.

Grade: D+