Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

Grading the Cleveland Browns 2021 NFL Draft picks

By Chad Porto

Apr 29, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Greg Newsome II (Northwestern) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell over video call after being selected by the Cleveland Browns as the number 26 overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft at First Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Greg Newsome II (Northwestern) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell over video call after being selected by the Cleveland Browns as the number 26 overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft at First Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 9
Next

The Browns have finished their 2021 NFL Draft selections, and it’s time to grade them.

The Browns are finally done with the 2021 NFL Draft and it’s time to evaluate the picks they got. Right now, this is more about if the team did a good job improving the weaknesses the team had, and not completely about the player taken, as it’s hard to really say for sure who’s going to turn into a star and who’s going to be cut after a few years. So here’s how we’re evaluating the picks.

  1. Positional need (does the Browns need that position.)
  2. Positional fit (does the player have the attributes to play in the Browns’ scheme)
  3. Was the player taken too high or too low?
  4. Does the player possess something that helps him stand out?

If the player meets all four criteria, he’ll get an A. If he gets three, he’ll get a B. If only two, then he’ll get a C, and if he gets 1, he’ll give given a D. If he doesn’t get one, he’ll get an F. Pluses and minuses will be awarded based on how good or bad the pick is and how close they were to move up or down a grade.

Round 1, Pick 26 – CB Greg Newsome III

The Browns made the call to go with Greg Newsome III to start off the draft, in earnest, for the city of Cleveland. Newsome is a good prospect who doesn’t struggle with different coverages too often. His injuries are a concern but his size (6’1) and speed (4.38 40-yard dash) will make him a real problem for teams facing him.

His collegiate competition will also make Browns fans excited, as he’s been tested. The Big Ten has some real tough outs to deal with on a weekly basis, and Newsome did well against them. He’ll be able to fit in nicely with the Browns corners.

While it was probably a better idea to wait until the third or fourth rounds to get a corner, the Browns now have a great-looking corner crew. Denzel Ward, Troy Hill, Greedy Williams, and now Newsome, that’s a foursome that should be able to hang with anyone and everyone. Assuming Williams is healthy for the regular-season debut.

Grade: B+

Not the biggest position of need, but a great prospect.

Home/Cleveland Browns