Ranking and grading each Browns rookie from the 2021 NFL season
By Chad Porto
8. LB/S Tony Fields II – No. 42
- Drafted: 5th round, Pick 153
- PFF Score: N/A
- Stats: 10 games, four tackles
- Grade: F
There’s no doubt that the hybrid defensive player from West Virginia was the least effective, least productive, and least impactful the Cleveland Browns drafted in 2021. He was a highly sought-after late-round pick, as he was capable of pretty impressive speed at a 4.62 40-yard dash, and due to his size and tackling ability, could play a similar role to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
For some reason, as is the trend with most post-drafts, fans actually believed that Fields and Owusu-Koramoah would be anchoring the defense together. Most people had four rookies starting for the 2021 Browns in the pre-season. Thankfully that didn’t come to pass, and guys like Anthony Walker and Sione Takitaki were available because Fields was not good at all.
He played in just ten games, and mostly as a special teams player on the kick-off and punt units.
In his 10 games, he amassed just four tackles. Despite injuries and illnesses wiping out the linebackers and safeties at various times in the season, Fields was never called upon, highlighting his lack of impact.
He did so little that PFF didn’t even bother calculating his score for his rookie year. That’s pretty bad, especially after so many fans hyped him up so much.