6 Combine Studs Cleveland Browns Must Have on Their Shortlist
This past weekend hundreds of NFL prospects gathered at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to showcase their skills in front of draft scouts and team representatives. A select group of players garnered extra attention by recording jaw-dropping performance statistics, which should force the Cleveland Browns to update their draft board.
Cleveland currently holds six of the first 112 picks in the 2015 draft—including picks No. 12 and 19. General manager Ray Farmer may realistically have missed on both of his 2014 first-round picks (CB Justin Gilbert, QB Johnny Manziel), but he will have a chance to redeem himself this year with two more first-round selections.
With positional weaknesses at every level of his defense as well as a newly acquired need for a dynamic wide receiver, the second-year general manager has a considerable amount of evaluating to do.
Fortunately, there were standouts at every position from cornerback to nose tackle at the 2015 edition of the NFL Scouting Combine. Connecticut cornerback prospect Byron Jones may have nabbed most of the headlines with his record-breaking horizontal leap, but he is only the face of an extremely gifted group of NFL hopefuls.
Let's take a peek at a few players who surely upped their position on the Browns' shortlist.
Bonus Studs
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WR Dorial Green-Beckham, Missouri
I know: another wide receiver with character issues. The Browns probably wouldn't touch Green-Beckham with a 10-foot pole, but his combine results were outstanding considering his 6'5", 237-pound frame.
ILB Eric Kendricks, UCLA
After having his athleticism overshadowed by other inside linebacker prospects, Kendricks put together an impressive showing at the combine. He is likely better suited to play in a 4-3 defense, but Kendricks is an intelligent player who may not be system-dependent.
WR Kenny Bell, Nebraska
It's tough to build a reputation at wide receiver with subpar (if not anemic) quarterback play. Bell's college film is lackluster—it may actually be better to call it incomplete—but he was a top performer in a number of important drills at the combine.
TE Jesse James, Penn State
The Browns may end up losing Jordan Cameron to free agency, which would make James a viable middle-round option. He may not have been a known commodity prior to the combine, but his outstanding showcase of strength and athleticism definitely put him on the map.
CB Nick Marshall, Auburn
With Buster Skrine set to hit free agency and Justin Gilbert not playing like a first-round pick, the Browns should be keeping an eye out for low-risk, high-reward cornerback prospects. Marshall, having played quarterback at Auburn, is the definition of a project. But he certainly is a tremendous athlete, and his measurables look eerily similar to a certain elite cornerback:
"Nick Marshall's closest CB athletic comparison over the past 5 years is Richard Sherman. Can't make this stuff up. pic.twitter.com/EldbobM34L
— Scott Carasik 5071 (@ScottCarasik) February 24, 2015"
Prospects Worth Noting: Trae Waynes (MSU), Kevin White (WVU), LB Davis Tull (UTC), CB Ronald Darby (FSU), CB Kevin Johnson (WFU), TE MyCole Pruitt (SIU), DE Danielle Hunter (LSU), LB Stephone Anthony (CU), LB Bud Dupree (UK), WR Tre McBride (W&M) and WR Justin Hardy (ECU).
WR Chris Conley, Georgia
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Entering the combine, the only Georgia prospect getting much attention was unparalleled running back prospect Todd Gurley. But wide receiver Chris Conley put together a performance few could ignore.
Conley's results at the combine were truly off the charts. Not only did he finish tied for third among wide receivers with a 4.35-second 40-yard dash, but Conley also broke the contemporary vertical jump (45") and broad jump (139") records at his position—the NFL combine database only includes results since 2006.
Based on these numbers, one would expect for this Georgia wide receiver to be a household name, but it is actually quite the opposite. In fact, Conley didn't even appear on Bleacher Report draft analyst Matt Miller's post-Super Bowl seven-round mock draft.
Additionally, Conley's incredible speed must not show well on film. Lance Zierlein—the NFL.com analyst in charge of preparing his draft profile—wrote: "tall wide receiver lacking blazing speed but showcasing enough acceleration to create separation when challenging upfield."
It isn't uncommon for early prospect analysis to be incorrect, but Conley certainly did an excellent job defining how his speed should be evaluated.
It is difficult to project where Conley's draft stock is now due to the hype of his combine performance. However, there is a reason why he isn't considered an elite wide receiver prospect—and why he was likely overlooked—as Josh Norris of Rotoworld notes:
"Chris Conley's straight line and explosion numbers are ridiculous. Change of direction though... via @mockdraftable pic.twitter.com/eQQyfKsUQu
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) February 22, 2015"
Still, the Browns could use some explosion at the wide receiver position with Josh Gordon suspended, and Conley surely is capable of providing it.
ILB Ben Heeney, Kansas
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Based on only his 6'0", 231-pound frame and the fact that he played at Kansas, it is easy to see why draft scouts largely overlooked inside linebacker Ben Heeney prior to the combine.
Heeney, who was not listed on Miller's post-Super Bowl mock draft, finished the combine as a top performer in the 40-yard dash (4.59), three-cone drill (6.68) and 20-yard shuttle (4.00) relative to the linebacker position. Most impressively, however, Heeney broke the linebacker 60-yard shuttle record—previously held by Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller—with a time of 11.06 seconds.
As impressive of a combine performance as this is, Heeney likely will never rank among the elite inside linebacker prospects due to his size and prior evaluations. Combine performances don't wield the power of changing what the film shows. Dane Brugler of CBS Sports may have said it best:
"I often use this comparison, but the NFL Combine is like the SATs. Teams want to know how prospects test. Body of work still most important
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 24, 2015"
Cleveland could use help at inside linebacker, but utilizing an early-round selection to fill this need would not be a cost-effective solution. As a result, Heeney looks to be an ideal draft target for the Browns based on expected draft position and positional talent.
Karlos Dansby was solid in 2014, but he is also 33 years old. After showcasing tremendous athleticism and feel for the position, the Browns should be eyeing the Kansas product as a potential (future) replacement.
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CB Byron Jones, Connecticut
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Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes put together an impressive combine performance and solidified his first-round draft stock. But his results pale in comparison to those of Connecticut's Byron Jones.
Jones didn't match Waynes' impressive 40-yard dash time, but this may only be because he didn't participate in this event. In the drills he did participate in, however, Jones literally broke world records.
In a combine performance that rivals just about any prospect from the last decade, Jones recorded the second-best vertical jump (44.5") by a cornerback since NFL.com began recording data and shattered both the combine and world record with an astounding 147.0" broad jump.
The Connecticut cornerback prospect also finished third at his position in the three-cone drill (6.78) and 20-yard shuttle (3.94). To top it off, his 10.98-second 60-yard shuttle ranks fourth all time among cornerbacks at the combine.
Cleveland has some stability at the cornerback position with Joe Haden. But Justin Gilbert didn't look like a top-10 pick last season, and Buster Skrine could potentially be playing elsewhere next year. Correspondingly, Cleveland should not be overlooking any cornerback prospects, especially insanely athletic ones.
Miller has Jones being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks late in the second round in his updated post-combine mock draft. As a result, the Browns would likely have to spend a consecutive early-round selection to acquire the Connecticut product.
Given the team's current standing at this position, however, Farmer and his scout team should certainly be keeping track of the crazy-athletic Jones.
WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
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He may have only participated in three events, but Arizona State's Jaelen Strong still made his presence known.
Strong, who was already firmly entrenched as a projected first-round selection, only took part in three drills: the 40-yard dash, vertical jump and broad jump. His 42" vertical leap placed second among wide receiver prospects, while his 4.44-second 40-yard dash and 123" broad jump ranked tied for 13th and ninth respectively.
This top-tier athletic ability comes coupled with an impressive skill set, as outlined by Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel:
"Jaelen Strong high points the ball, has ridiculous body control. He produces run after catch yards, can bring down a jumpball & runs fast.
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) February 23, 2015"
Other wide receiver prospects such as West Virginia's Kevin White and Alabama's Amari Cooper also put together strong showings this past weekend. Consequently, these receiver prospects may no longer be available for Cleveland at pick No. 12 (or No. 19 for that matter).
The Browns, as previously stated, desperately need to add to a pedestrian wide receiver corps. Currently, the only players at this position who played significant time in 2014 guaranteed to return in 2015 are Andrew Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel.
Strong—who almost certainly will be available at pick No. 12 and potentially at No. 19 as well—would provide an immediate boost to this group, and he could quickly become the No. 1 option in Cleveland with Gordon suspended.
With White and Cooper—possibly even DeVante Parker as well—warranting selections earlier than Cleveland's No. 12 pick, Strong should be near the top of the Browns' draft board.
LB Vic Beasley, Clemson
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Clemson's Vic Beasley has been widely considered a first-round talent for over a year now, but the surge of edge-rusher prospects cooled his hype a bit. After an outstanding performance in Indianapolis, however, few will forget Beasley's name moving forward.
There has been plenty of discussion concerning whether Beasley projects better as a 4-3 defensive end or 3-4 outside linebacker (edge-rusher) over the past few months. He may have tested as a linebacker this past weekend, but he certainly showed traits of a defensive end as well.
Beasley showcased an impressive combination of strength (35 bench press repetitions) and athleticism (41" vertical leap) during his combine performance. His results ranked him in the top five—among 2015 linebacker prospects—in every drill, excluding the 60-yard shuttle (which he did not participate in).
As noted by Norris via Mock Draftable, Beasley's results consistently ranked above the 90th percentile:
"My goodness: http://t.co/nM4OXavrHT Vic Beasley, via @mockdraftable pic.twitter.com/NUXMB13pGO
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) February 23, 2015"
The Clemson linebacker (or defensive end) is simply a freak athlete.
Miller currently has the New Orleans Saints selecting Beasley with the No. 13 overall pick, one selection past the Browns. Cleveland isn't in desperate need of pass-rushing help—Paul Kruger was able to reach the quarterback more often during his second year with the Browns—but Beasley may be difficult to pass on.
Barkevious Mingo has largely been a disappointment to date, which, at the very least, should force Farmer to strongly consider Beasley after a sensational combine showing.
NT Danny Shelton, Washington
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Cleveland's greatest positional weakness surely is the quarterback position, but it is unlikely the team is willing to give up on Johnny Manziel after just one season. With Ahtyba Rubin being an impending free agent—and unlikely to be re-signed due to ineffectiveness—nose tackle is likely on top of Farmer's list of draft needs.
USC's Leonard Williams is definitively the top defensive line prospect, but Washington's Danny Shelton may not be too far behind.
Upon an initial glance, Shelton's combine numbers—aside from his 34 bench press repetitions—do not appear to be anything special. When considering his mammoth size (6'2", 339 lbs), however, these results become more impressive.
Per Mock Draftable, Shelton's weight classifies him in the 96th percentile relative to his position. He is a classic example of why the 40-yard dash is an overrated performance drill. His 5.64-second time ranks in the first percentile, but—as also noted by Miller—his 1.88 10-yard split fits the standard for his position.
Miller currently has Shelton being drafted seventh overall by the Chicago Bears. If this holds true, Cleveland won't even have the opportunity to add the gigantic Washington nose tackle. However, this doesn't mean he shouldn't top the Browns' shortlist of realistic draft prospects.
Regardless of where he is being listed in mock drafts, Shelton should be the No. 2 prospect on the Browns' draft board (behind only Williams)—an argument can obviously be made here for a few edge-rushers or Kevin White as well.
Shelton is a dynamic talent and physical specimen who would fill a definitive need for Cleveland. He made his elite status clear at the NFL combine, and now the Browns should be looking into how to get him on their 2015 roster.
2015 NFL Scouting Combine results courtesy of NFL.com. Projected draft positions courtesy of Matt Miller's post-combine and post-Super Bowl mock drafts.
For more NFL coverage, analysis and statistics, find me on Twitter @RobertReidell.
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