The Cleveland Browns rookies have had an up and down season so far and while it’s too soon to call it, it’s not too soon to evaluate them.
The Cleveland Browns had a draft that excited many fans, a rare thing these days for the once-proud franchise. It was seen as the building blocks for the Browns who are on their way back from 20+ years of suck.
We’ve graded the five best offensive players and the five best defensive players through the first quarter of the year. So let’s take a look and grade the rookie’s performance through the first quarter of the year.
First Round: Jedrick Wills
Grade: C+
Jedrick Wills has been a viable option at left tackle throughout the year and has shown a lot of promise, but he hasn’t always executed effectively. He’s been stable at times but has also been beaten more than you’d like to see. This isn’t an indictment on him, yet, as he’s only four games into his career and had very little time to adjust to the change in offense schemes. Yet, the longer the season goes on, the less of an excuse that becomes.
Second Round: Grant Delpit
Grade: Incomplete
Grant Delpit got hurt in training camp and may never be the same at all. That’s assuming he even comes back from his Achilles tear. The Achilles tendon is one of the hardest muscles to regain form with, and it’s entirely possible that Delpit never lives up to his lofty expectations.
Third Round: Jordan Elliott
Grade: D
You’ll argue that Jordan Elliott hasn’t done anything to warrant a D, and to that, you’d hear back a “yeah, that’s the point.” Elliott has been healthy, active, and ready to play all year but at times the third defensive tackle has been Porter Gustin, who’s a defensive end. Elliott hasn’t impressed Browns’ coaches enough to want to play him that much, and that speaks volumes to where he is right now. He’s only been on the field about 40 percent of the time and has only had three assisted tackles to his name. He may have a chance to rectify that after the injury to starter Larry Ogunjobi.
Third Round: Jacob Phillips
Grade: Incomplete
Jacob Phillips has been slowed by an injury to start the Browns 2020 season so far. It’s been a big reason why he hasn’t been involved much even when cleared to play. The linebackers are all terrible this year, and he and Mack Wilson have only played sparingly since being cleared to play. We’ll have a better idea of what Phillips is in four more weeks.
Fourth Round: Harrison Bryant
Grade: B+
Easily the Browns’ most-consistent rookie through four weeks is Harrison Bryant. While not playing A-ball yet, his blocking has been stellar, and he’s stepped up and caught some big-play passes to help the team. Just not enough to be truly gobsmacked with his performance. Most of what Bryant has done well is the block, and while it’s not a sexy skill, it’s an important one.
Fifth Round: Nick Harris
Grade: D
Like Elliot, Nick Harris hasn’t done anything. Yes, J.C. Tretter is the starter, and Wyatt Teller has been an MVP in the eyes of some, but if Harris was performing well in practice, he’d unseat someone. There’s a reason why people don’t start, they haven’t earned it. The Browns aren’t committed to anyone, they’re committed to the best ones. If Harris was outperforming a starter, he’d have replaced him by now. Tretter’s been solid but not amazing. Joel Bitonio has regressed a bit and still, he starts. So clearly the Browns feel that Harris isn’t good enough to play more than special teams as of yet.
Sixth Round: Donovan Peoples-Jones
Grade: F
Donovan Peoples-Jones has not seen any real offensive snaps in his NFL career so far and didn’t even break into the return game until here was an injury to JoJo Natson. In the biggest play of his young career, a kick return that fell short in the 4th quarter of the Cowboys game, Peoples-Jones hesitated to cover the ball, nearly allowing the Cowboys to recover it. If he can’t play receiver at the NFL level and can’t be a return man at the NFL level, then he’s a bitter disappointment. There’s a reason why he wasn’t a starter at Michigan and we’re seeing that on display.