Grading the Cleveland Browns 2021 NFL Draft picks
By Chad Porto
Round 4, Pick 27 – DT Tommy Togiai
There isn’t a stronger player in the 2021 NFL Draft than the former Ohio State Buckeye pass-rushing defensive tackle, Tommy Togiai. Togiai racked up a crazy bench press figure of 40 reps of 225 lbs., making his strength among the elite in NFL history, not just the draft class. Will that raw strength translate, however? That’s the real question.
Togiai, like most of the defensive players taken at this point, will be in line to push for a starter position. Coming in, he’ll have to contend with Andrew Billing, who has a lot to prove himself, as well as established veteran Malik Jackson. Jackson was a big get for the Browns but some don’t believe he’ll be an every-down defensive tackle. Then you have second-year defensive tackle Jordan Elliot who was so ineffective he barely played, despite the Browns needing some help inside for most of the year.
Normally you don’t expect fourth-rounders to push for a starting job, but the interior pass rusher was a projected third-round pick, meaning that he’s someone you should expect some serious production from early and often. That is if he’s able to get his foot in the door because that’s not always easy to do.
Togiai is going to help guys like Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney, and Porter Gustin get into the backfield more, as Togiai is an impressive interior pass-rusher.
Grade: A+
He’s not a guaranteed starter, but what he provides in potential, and the value pick he came to the Browns at, it’s hard to give this pick anything less than an A+.