Cleveland Browns to Watch in Training Camp: DT Danny Shelton

The big knock on defensive tackle Danny Shelton prior to the draft was that he didn't appear to have the speed or athleticism to be an every-down player at the NFL level. CBS Sports' Rob Rang wrote in his scouting report that, "Despite his production indicating otherwise, Shelton is not a consistent pass rush threat. He's a classic two-gap run-plugger with the bulk and brute strength to bull-rush opponents into the backfield."

But the Cleveland Browns didn't see things that way. They selected Shelton with the 12th-overall pick in the 2015 draft and expect him to be a force both in the team's run defense and its passing defense in his rookie year.

Year	Solo T.	Comb. T.	TFL	Sacks
2011	2	11	0.0	0.0
2012	20	45	4.0	0.5
2013	36	59	3.5	2.0
2014	53	93	16.5	9.0
Total	111	208	24.0	11.5

Browns defensive line coach Anthony Weaver said after last month's minicamp that:

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I think people look at his size. They see what he ran 40-wise, but at the end of the day, just put on the film. The film tells a story. He's had success throughout college, and I could see that easily translating to our level. I think he has all the potential in the world to be a three-down player. The way he can collapse the pocket in pass rush will make more success for our edge [rushers]. He plays the game with a type of energy that you just can't fake.

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And now that the Browns training camp is underway, we'll get a better look at just what Shelton is capable of doing on the field. Will Rang's criticisms prove true, or will Weaver's expectations be met? That question is why Shelton is a must-watch player during the Browns camp this summer.

There's no question that Shelton was coveted by the Browns for his size and run-stopping potential. The Browns needed to upgrade their defensive line rotation, particularly at nose tackle, to improve upon the league-worst 141.6 rushing yards per game the Browns were allowing in 2014. But Shelton could also prove to be an asset to a pass rush that totaled only 31 sacks last season. After all, Shelton didn't total nine sacks last year for no reason.

But the defensive line is a crowded place for the Browns right now, and Shelton is one of the team's most inexperienced players. That's not to say he won't have a place in the starting lineup, but he may not get enough opportunities to prove he's a three-down tackle unless he can stand out in training camp.

For what it's worth, head coach Mike Pettine is not worried about Shelton, nor about the time the defender missed earlier in the offseason while he graduated college. Pettine spoke with Andrew Gribble of the Browns' official website earlier this week and said about Shelton that:

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Mentally, he's been on top of it from the beginning. He didn't miss any padded work...I'm very confident he'll be ready to go for the opener. It was for good reason but it's unfortunate that that was the hand we were dealt but I don't think it will affect much, especially when we get to the end of camp.

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He also added that Shelton is "competitive," "relentless" and "tough," which seem like the proper buzzwords for a defensive tackle who is expected to do more than just run-stuff. And with Pettine noting on Wednesday (via Scout.com's Fred Greetham) that Phil Taylor will be on a "pitch count" for at least part of training camp as he continues to work back from last season's knee injury, it should give Shelton plenty of reps both against the run and the pass.

Despite predraft criticisms, the Browns selected Shelton in Round 1 because they truly believe he can be a do-it-all defensive lineman from Week 1. Training camp will be the first real test of Shelton's every-down abilities. What he can and cannot do will heavily inform the makeup of the defensive line's depth chart this year. Because so much hinges on Shelton's development, he's a player to keep a close eye on in camp this summer.