At #6 is the Cleveland Browns with a very well-rounded draft.
After hall-of-famer Joe Thomas retired in 2018, it’s been a revolving door at left tackle, with the likes of Spencer Drango, Desmond Harrison and Greg Robinson starting games for two seasons, the Browns finally found their hopeful long-term left tackle in Jedrick Wills. The third tackle off the board has 53 career starts, but missed half of last season with an MCL injury. His PFF grades suggest he’s an average to below average tackle, but the Browns picked up his fifth-year option so they are still hopeful for Wills to turn it around. He’s been a fine tackle, and good offensive line play can be hard to come by, but I still believe this was a very good selection by Cleveland.
Grant Delpit was one of the top prospects entering this draft, but fell due to positional value, and was the third safety selected. His debut was delayed a season as he tore his Achilles in training camp, and after entering 2021 as a backup, he earned the starting role by midseason and hasn’t let go. He played every snap in 2022, and started 13 games last season and signed a three-year extension in December. A slow start didn’t derail Delpit’s career and could have a Pro Bowl in his future.
Jordan Elliott is a player I don’t think a lot of people know about. A full-time player the last three seasons at defensive tackle, Elliott’s been a consistent player for them on a very good Browns defense. PFF has graded him bottom 20 all four seasons, but if you’re starting for the Browns defensive line, you have to be good.
Jacob Phillips has primarily been a backup/rotational middle linebacker in his career with eight career starts. He missed the entire last season with a torn pec.
Harrison Bryant has sneaky been a productive player as a backup tight end. Finishing with 238, 233, and 239 receiving yards in his first three seasons, he has 10 career touchdowns in 65 games while starting 30. His receiving role decreased last season as David Njoku had a career year, but he still had three touchdowns on 13 catches. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s brought back on a cheap deal, but if he wants the chance to be a starter and get paid, he’ll be headed elsewhere.
Nick Harris has had a funky career with four fill-in starts at center in 40 games, but had recently been serving as the team’s fullback in goal line packages.
Donovan Peoples-Jones is the lone player no longer with the team as he was traded to the Lions for a sixth-round pick at last year’s trade deadline. He quietly had a really good three seasons in Cleveland, getting better each year and had over 800 yards in 2022 while also serving as the team’s primary punt returner.
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