Grading the Cleveland Browns 2023 NFL Draft picks
By Chad Porto
Pick #140 – QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson
The Cleveland Browns made the baffling call to go after a Dorian Thompson-Robinson, quarterback, in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, selecting a player that the team has no real need for. More often than not, teams and fans alike will talk about the potential and how so-and-so is the quarterback of the future. More than likely, that’s never the case. Yes, you get Tom Brady, Brock Purdy, and Dak Prescott’s every now and then, but most late-round quarterbacks are more akin to Kellen Mond.
A journeyman.
Thompson-Robinson played five years at UCLA, and compiled 10,710 yards, 88 touchdowns, and 36 interceptions, while only posting a completion percentage of 63.3 for his career. Though, his percentage did jump 12.2 points from his freshmen year to his second senior year.
He’s not a big runner but he can, posting 1,826 yards on the ground over those five years, and hitting 600 yards in back-to-back seasons with UCLA in 2021 and 2022. He also tacked on 21 touchdowns on the ground over the last two seasons as well.
Still, PFF did have his grade go from 85.2 in 2021 to 74.8 in 2021. So that’s not encouraging. He also only posted a 49.5 against quarterback pressure. He’s also not that athletic. While he has a nice top-end speed, 4.56 40-yard, he’s not nimble (7.28 in the three-cone drill). So he’s not going to be able to get away from a lot of guys once they get past the line of scrimmage.
He should be able to do a lot of QB sneaks, however. Especially if it’s a QB draw. That said, he has had a lot of injuries over his career, so using him as a mobile quarterback could hurt his long-term viability.
Player Comparision: Shaun King
Grade: D
Thoughts: With Deshua Watson, Kellen Mond, and Joshua Dobbs on the roster, it makes no sense that the Browns would draft him unless they’re already done with Mond.