An in-Depth Look at the Browns' Most Intriguing Selection, Danny Shelton
The Cleveland Browns were busy in the 2015 NFL draft, with 12 selections over the three-day process.
A number of prospects should be considered candidates to make early impacts, including Cameron Erving, who will compete for a job on the offensive line; Nate Orchard, who should be used as a situational pass-rusher; and Duke Johnson, who will likely be the team's primary third-down back.
But no prospect in this class provides the Browns with as much game-changing versatility as Danny Shelton.
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Now, versatility probably isn't something that comes to mind when you think of a 6'3", 340-pound lineman—especially when that lineman runs a 5.64 40-yard dash at the combine.
Those types of measurables almost always result in the prospect becoming a nose tackle at the next level, and often one that comes off the field in obvious passing situations.
Despite the limited athleticism he demonstrated at the combine, Shelton is not your ordinary nose tackle.
Most true nose tackles take on multiple blockers, freeing up space for others in the front seven to make plays. But Shelton was consistently among those members of the Washington Huskies defense causing the most disruption.
According to Pro Football Focus, Shelton recorded 10 sacks, 11 quarterback hits and 27 QB hurries. He also finished with the 11th-best pass-rush grade of all defensive tackles in the 2015 draft class.
Those aren't the types of numbers you expect for the typical nose tackle, who is content to simply take up space.
Shelton also demonstrated his athleticism against the run, showing a rare ability to make plays in pursuit for a man his size. The image below shows Shelton chasing down a ball-carrier against Arizona.
To fully understand why the Browns selected Shelton, it helps to understand the background of those who selected him.
Mike Pettine rose through the coaching ranks in Baltimore, as an assistant under defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Pettine's final three years in Baltimore overlapped with the first three years of Haloti Ngata. With Ngata at his disposal, Ryan wrote the blueprint for how to use a versatile nose tackle with a rare combination of size and athleticism.
While Ngata's usage has been scaled back as he's gotten older, even in 2014 the Ravens were using him as far more than just a pure nose tackle.
The image below shows Ngata from a game in 2014 in which he was used in a traditional nose tackle position. On this particular play, he's lined up between the guard and center in the 1-technique, preparing to shoot the A-gap on the offensive line.
This particular play took place on 1st-and-10, so Ngata's primary responsibility is to plug the gap should the running back attempt to challenge the Ravens up the middle.
In the event that this is a passing play, by taking on two blockers, Ngata ensures that Elvis Dumervil (No. 58) is free to attack the right tackle in a one-on-one matchup.
It's worth noting that the Browns are equipped for this setup already. Phil Taylor, or even Ishmaa'ily Kitchen, could eat up space on the line to plug a gap in the run game or free up an edge-rusher. But this is certainly something that Shelton brings to the table as well.
A versatile nose tackle can also play the role from other spots on the defensive line.
The image below shows Ngata lining up between the right tackle and guard, in the 3-technique preparing to take on the B-gap of the offensive line.
This is also a 1st-and-10 play, but because the Steelers have stacked the right side of their line, Ngata shifts out. Should the Steelers run to the strong side, Ngata can take on two blockers, freeing up Dumervil and Daryl Smith (No. 51).
Another player Shelton gives the Browns the ability to imitate is Chiefs nose tackle Dontari Poe.
The comparison to Poe comes from his connection to Browns GM Ray Farmer, who worked in the Kansas City front office when the team made Poe the 11th pick in the 2012 draft.
Like Shelton, Poe has the size to plug gaps with ease but also the athleticism to create disruption up the middle.
While the Chiefs often use Poe to take on multiple blockers, as the Ravens did with Ngata on the two aforementioned plays, Poe is also a pass-rushing weapon who rarely comes off the field for Kansas City.
The image below shows Poe lining up in a 3rd-and-long situation against the Patriots.
One tackle (hidden behind No. 39) essentially lines up in the 2-technique covering up the left guard, while the 6'3", 346-pound Poe shifts to the 3-technique, putting himself in position to shoot the B-gap and create penetration up the middle.
Given their history with Ngata and Poe, it's reasonable to assume that Farmer and Pettine locked in on Shelton after they realized he had the potential to be the same type of versatile weapon on the defensive line.
The Browns had hoped that Taylor would develop into this type of lineman, but he has been little more than a run-stuffing nose tackle when healthy. There's certainly value in that, and it helped him earn a plus-3.1 grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) during his last healthy season in 2013. But the lack of versatility somewhat limits the Browns' options on the defensive line.
With Shelton's versatility, however, Pettine and defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil can get creative.
Scroll back up to the image of Poe with the Chiefs, and imagine Shelton in Poe's role as the 3-technique, Taylor on the opposite side to draw a double-team with Paul Kruger and Barkevious Mingo lined up as the edge-rushers—that's a formidable four-man pass rush for an offense to deal with on 3rd-and-long.
It's unreasonable to expect Shelton to remind anyone of Poe or Ngata on a regular basis during his rookie year. Afterall, even Poe notched a minus-14.5 PFF grade as a rookie. (PFF doesn't date back far enough to give Ngata's rookie grades).
While there will be some learning that Shelton is forced to do on the job, and he'll make some mistakes in the process, he has all the tools necessary to be the versatile force the Browns need to create disruption from the interior of their defensive line.
Ryan McCrystal is an NFL draft Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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