by This may go down as one of the best draft classes in Cleveland Browns history as Andrew Barry has appeared to have nailed it. Only time will tell if injury and possible distractions throw things off course, but overall, this is one of the best draft classes the Cleveland Browns have had in a long time. Perhaps it was the simple fact that they finally had another first round pick for the first time in years, or the fact they went for need over flash, but whatever the case may be, they picked smart and fans are excited.
Here are the grades given to them, by myself, for each selection.
Round One No. 5: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Grade – A-
Reason – What a masterful job by Andrew Barry with this move. Not only did they secure Jacksonville’s round two pick this year, but also their first pick this year and next! Although fans will be upset that they passed on Abdul Carter, Graham is not a far off from that talent level.
Graham gives the Browns that force in the middle of the line that they have been lacking for years. They didn’t get it with Clowney or other free agent swings and misses. He is strong and fast and coachable. When you factor in his age, the Browns may have locked up their main DT for over a decade to come. The fans will love his Midwest work ethic as well!
Round two No. 33: Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
Grade – B+
Reason – He is a 6 foot 3 inches and 242 pounds but moves with the quickness of a tailback. The Browns have had issue with warm weather players suffering soft muscle injuries in the past and hopefully Schwesinger can break that trend. The Browns had one of the weakest linebacking rooms in the league last year and when JOK went down, their season was officially over. This pick gives them a serious threat to stopping anything from getting to or past the second level.
Round two No. 36 (via Jaguars): Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
Grade – B
Reason – It’s crazy to think the Browns took BIG10 players with their first 3 picks, you almost never see that, but that is exactly what they did. He fills a need and is an outstanding gap runner. Judkins is a physical rusher with great burst and vision between the tackles. He not only sees the holes, he busts through them.
He rushed for 1,000 plus yards in 3 straight years in college and will be the feature back to replace Nick Chubb. The last time Cleveland Browns fans saw him play, he was rushing for 3 touchdowns against Notre Dame in the National Championship game. This is a stud pick to land in the second round of a running back draft class that was loaded!
No. 67: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
Grade – B+
Reason – Fannin Jr. was not given the justice he deserves by playing in the MAC. He is extremely talented and listed as a Top Five TE on many draft boards. He hauled in 117 balls for 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns last year for Bowling Green. He also performed well on the road against big money talent as he caught 11 balls for 137 yards and a touchdown and followed up at Texas A&M with eight catches for 145 yards and a touchdown.
Not only that, but he was MAC expert Dom Clary’s favorite tight end. We’ve seen David Njoku do his best work with a solid number two tight end option on the roster as well to take some of the heat off. This was a great move!
Round Three – No. 94 (via Bills): Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
Grade – A
Reason – Gabriel was a stud at Oregon and ranked fourth in my own personal QB draft class behind Ward, Dart and Milroe. He will have all kinds of time to develop in the Browns offense and with Flacco and Pickett on one-year deals. Gabriel will be a very safe option to be the number two quarterback as early as next year. He is light years better then DTR ever was. He is poised and under control at all times, he would rather hit the check down then try to squeeze a tight window, again with a backup quarterback, that is what you want.
Round Four No. 126 (via Jaguars): Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee
Grade – A
Reason –The second half of thew new one two punch at running back is a good one! Sampson was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year as he ran for 1,491 yards and a school-record 22 touchdowns. The fact that he was still there in the fourth round was stunning. This is a steal and a half for the Cleveland Browns. Sampson was the biggest reason the Tennessee Volunteers made the playoffs this past NCAA season.
No. 144 (via Seahawks): Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Grade – D-
Reason – The Browns nearly screwed up their best draft in years with one Hell of a stretch in the fifth round. Shedeur Sanders is made for the UFL, with all flash and little to no substance. He is also a locker room cancer, noted by many to be immature and undertalented. This was a huge mistake for the Cleveland Browns to make no matter what round he came in. There is no way anyone can tell me that this is not another Jimmy Haslam move. At the very least, Sanders will give you a reason to stick around for the final two minutes of the first, second and possibly even third pre-season game this coming summer. Little after that.
My final grade for the Cleveland Browns is an A-. It would have bene a plus if not for their final pick.
