NFL1000: Cleveland Browns 2017 NFL Draft Preview
Since they came back into the NFL in 1999 after a four-year absence, the Cleveland Browns have made the postseason exactly once—in 2002—and have suffered through more bad free-agent transactions and draft picks than some franchises will endure in three or four decades. To try to right the ship, owner Jimmy Haslam made three moves in 2016: He hired head coach Hue Jackson, a known offensive mastermind and quarterback developer, and he handed former baseball executive Paul DePodesta the title of chief strategy officer, with Sashi Brown taking the more traditional general manager role.
The first year of the new regime was going to be a wash—everybody knew that. The Browns, as they had been constructed, simply didn't possess enough talent to be anything but fodder for the rest of the league.
In garnering just one win in 2016, the team set itself up for the first overall draft pick, which is the crown jewel in a haul of selections DePodesta has put together in the last year. Cleveland has two first-round picks in this upcoming draft, and though that usually creates excitement among fans, there's enough reasonable skepticism surrounding anything this franchise does.
And to be sure, this team has needs just about everywhere. The loss of receiver Terrelle Pryor to the Redskins in free agency leaves the receiver group thin, which is exacerbated by the fact that the Browns don't have anyone on their roster approaching the status of franchise quarterback. Getting Kenny Britt from the Rams is a bit of a Band-Aid, but more is needed. The free-agent acquisitions of guard Kevin Zeitler and center J.C. Tretter should help an offensive line that struggled with consistency.
Just as much or more help is needed on the defensive side of the ball, and new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will have his hands full. There are clear and present needs at cornerback and edge-rusher, the two most important defensive positions.
The good news for the Browns is that they a lot of draft capital to work with, and if they select their personnel correctly, improvement should come quickly. The bad news? If there's any backsliding, it'll look like the Same Old Browns.
Methodology
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The NFL1000 team of scouts graded a series of important attributes for every player in their positional review. Using a scale starting at zero and going up to anywhere from five to 50 based on the position and the attribute, our scouts graded each player based on their own expertise and countless hours of tape review over the years. Our evaluators had specific positional assignments in their proven fields of expertise.
- Doug Farrar: Lead scout/quarterbacks
- John Middlekauff: Running backs/fullbacks
- Marcus Mosher: Wide receivers/tight ends
- Mark Schofield: Wide receivers/tight ends
- Duke Manyweather: Offensive tackles
- Ethan Young: Offensive guards
- Joe Goodberry: AFC defensive ends
- Justis Mosqueda: NFC defensive ends
- Charles McDonald: Defensive tackles
- Zach Kruse: 3-4 outside linebackers
- Derrik Klassen: 4-3 outside linebackers
- Jerod Brown: Inside linebackers
- Kyle Posey: Cornerbacks
- Ian Wharton: Cornerbacks
- Mark Bullock: Safeties
- Chuck Zodda: Special teams
Each corresponding position slide was written by the assigned scout.
Quarterback
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Scheme: West Coast/power
Starter: Cody Kessler
NFL1000 Score: 64.4/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 31/38
Selected in the third round out of USC last year, Cody Kessler did a decent job in his rookie season to separate himself from the Browns' quarterback miasma, throwing six touchdowns and just two interceptions.
He dealt with concussions in 2016, which reduced his snaps, and he's a limited thrower who struggles to push the ball deep. He'll have a chance to start in 2016 only if the Browns' inevitable first-round quarterback in 2017 struggles with his development or gets hurt, but Kessler fits the prototype of the able backup.
Backup: Kevin Hogan
NFL1000 Score: Did not have enough snaps to qualify
Kevin Hogan had the unenviable task of replacing Andrew Luck at Stanford, but he did so at a fairly high level in David Shaw's multifaceted offense. Selected by the Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2016 draft, Hogan will struggle as a passer until he works out his wonky delivery and inconsistent field vision. He threw two interceptions in just 24 attempts against the Bengals subbing for an injured Kessler, and he was more remarkable for his running ability. He's a developmental backup at this point.
Backup: Brock Osweiler
NFL1000 Score: 60.3/100
NFL Rank: 36/38
Only Jared Goff and Blaine Gabbert had worse season-long performance grades than Brock Osweiler, who was an absolute disaster in his one year with the Texans. Houston signed the former Denver backup to a four-year, $72 million deal in March 2016 and regretted the transaction enough to cut bait just a year later.
The trade to the Browns doesn't signify a level of belief in his future from the Cleveland brass—the Browns acquired a second-round pick in 2018 from the Texans to take on Osweiler's onerous $16 million cap hit in 2017, and it's entirely possible that he'll be wearing another uniform when the regular season begins if another team is willing to take on part of that contract.
At this point, Osweiler's deal is about the only thing keeping him in the league; his gangly delivery and fearsome lack of accuracy are severe handicaps that may not be sorted out.
Team Need: 10/10
Potential Draft Fits: Mitchell Trubisky (North Carolina), DeShone Kizer (Notre Dame), Deshaun Watson (Clemson)
Running Back
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Scheme: West Coast/power
Starter: Isaiah Crowell
NFL1000 Score: 71.8/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 27/82
Isaiah Crowell had a career year for the Browns in 2016 and was rewarded with a second-round tender worth $2.81 million. Crowell averaged 4.8 yards per carry and had seven rushing touchdowns. He also added a career-high 40 catches.
He is a natural inside runner and has the power and feet to pound the football. Crowell is a one-cut back who looks to get vertical and plays physically, as he can break soft arm tackles. He also has the top-end speed for explosive runs.
Crowell has the burst to run outside and the ability to change direction to make plays in space. He is more than functional in the passing game, as he has natural hands. He proved he can be a difference-maker through the air. Overall, Crowell is one of the more underrated players in the NFL and someone the Browns will lean on next season.
Backup: Duke Johnson
NFL1000 Score: 70.8/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 36/82
Duke Johnson took a step back in the run game with Crowell's emergence, but he continued to be a mainstay in the passing game. He had 53 catches in 2016, a slight step back from 61 the previous year, but has established himself as one of the better receivers in the league at his position.
Johnson is a not a consistent inside runner; he lacks the vision and power to break tackles. He does have the speed to work outside the tackles and has the wiggle to make guys miss in the open field. In the passing game, he is exceptional, as he's a consistent route-runner who can create separation against good defenders and possesses soft hands.
Once he has the football, he can let his dynamic speed take over. Overall, the Browns have one of the better pass-catching backs in the NFL, and Johnson should continue to excel in his role behind Crowell.
Backup: George Atkinson
NFL1000 Score Did not have enough snaps to qualify
George Atkinson is a lifetime practice squad player who has seven career carries. He does add value as a kickoff return man, which clearly helped him dress every week in 2016 for the Browns. Atkinson is a one-cut, downhill runner, who does have good top-end speed. He is far down on the depth chart, and if the Browns use a draft pick on a running back, his time in Cleveland is in major jeopardy.
Team Need: 4/10
Potential Draft Fits: D'Onta Foreman (Texas), Samaje Perine (Oklahoma)
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Fullback
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Scheme: West Coast/power
Starter: Dan Vitale
NFL1000 Score: Did not have enough snaps to qualify
Hue Jackson uses a lot of one-back sets, but he did use Dan Vitale in specific short-yardage packages. While he didn't play enough snaps to earn a grade, Vitale did show promise in 2016. A good athlete, who is not afraid of contact, Vitale can locate defenders in space. He is solid in the passing game because of his speed. He also has soft hands. Overall, his role should grow in 2017, as the Browns will need to rely heavily on the run game.
Team Need: 1/10
Potential Draft Fits: None
Wide Receiver
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Scheme: West Coast
Starter: Corey Coleman
NFL1000 Score: 65.6/100
NFL1000 Position Ranking: 67/155
Selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft, Corey Coleman stepped right into a starting role with the Browns. He appeared in 10 games, missing six in the middle of the season after breaking his hand in practice.
Coleman caught 33 passes for 413 yards and three touchdowns last year, and showed the ability to get separation on deeper routes along the boundary. He also flashed change-of-direction skills on routes like comeback patterns or hitch routes.
Coleman also displayed awareness in scramble drill situations, working himself open when Cody Kessler or Robert Griffin III had to buy time in the pocket. He did have some drops last season, which is an aspect of his game he'll need to work on as he assumes more of a role in the Cleveland passing game.
Starter: Kenny Britt
NFL1000 Score: 67.8/100
NFL1000 Position Ranking: 40/155
Kenny Britt turned in the best season of his career in 2016, catching 68 passes for 1,002 yards and five touchdowns. He remains an effective weapon in the vertical passing game and can use his size (6'3", 223 lbs) and speed to get separation against most cornerbacks.
What's more impressive is he was able to put up these numbers despite inconsistent quarterback play in Los Angeles. Drops are not an area where he struggles, but he did fumble twice last season and needs to work a bit on ball security.
His size makes him a perfect X-receiver and a solid complement to Coleman.
Backup: Rashard Higgins
NFL1000 Score: 59.2/100
NFL1000 Position Ranking: 140/155
Coleman was not the only rookie wide receiver to see action for the Browns in 2016. Rashard Higgins was drafted in the fifth round after a strong career at Colorado State. He saw action in all 16 games and caught six passes for 77 yards.
He showed some ability to work underneath against zone coverage, particularly on shallow crossers or quick curl routes. Another area Higgins showed strength was as a blocker, either off the wing in the running game or downfield after a fellow receiver pulled in a throw. With the departure of Terrelle Pryor, Higgins has a chance to assume more of a role in 2017.
Backup: Ricardo Louis
NFL1000 Score: 61.7/100
NFL1000 Position Ranking: 113/155
Ricardo Louis rounds out the trio of second-year receivers for Cleveland. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 draft out of Auburn and appeared in all 16 games, catching 18 passes for 205 yards. He has decent size for the position (6'2", 215 lbs) and can be used either outside as a true X-receiver or as more of a Z-receiver.
His best game of 2016 came in Week 6 against Tennessee, where he caught five passes for 65 yards. In that game he displayed veteran savvy, particularly in the scramble drill. On one play in particular he was initially covered on an underneath option route, but wriggled free for Cody Kessler to find him for a big gain.
Team Need: 4/10
Potential Draft Fits: JuJu Smith-Schuster (University of Southern California), Carlos Henderson (Louisiana Tech), Zay Jones (East Carolina)
Tight End
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Scheme: West Coast
Starter: Gary Barnidge
NFL1000 Score: 64.8/100
NFL1000 Position Ranking: 32/96
After a career year in 2015, Gary Barnidge saw his statistics take a step back last season. The veteran caught 79 passes for 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns in 2015, but those numbers dropped to 55 receptions for 612 yards and a pair of scores last year.
Part of that was due to inconsistent QB play, but Barnidge did struggle at times to get separation on his routes, whether against man or zone coverage. At his best, he is a solid receiving threat with the ability to get open underneath or on more downfield routes against zone schemes—or when he finds himself with an advantageous matchup in man situations.
He is also a fairly effective blocker, with the ability to contribute both in the run game or as an extra pass-blocker on occasion. Barnidge enters his 10th NFL season as the clear No. 1 tight end.
Backup: Seth DeValve
NFL1000 Score: 59.4/100
NFL1000 Position Ranking: 71/96
Rookie Seth DeValve out of Princeton University appeared in only 12 games last year, but he made the most of his time on the field. He caught 10 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns, with his first scoring play coming in Week 10 against the Baltimore Ravens on a 25-yard connection with Cody Kessler. On that play, DeValve ran a beautiful deep crosser, running away from Eric Weddle in coverage.
His other scoring play—against the Steelers in the season finale—showed his potential after the catch, as he caught a pass in the flat and beat the defender to the front corner of the end zone, sneaking inside the pylon for the score. Look for DeValve to play even more of a role as he enters his second NFL season.
Backup: Randall Telfer
NFL1000 Score: 57.8/100
NFL1000 Position Ranking: 87/96
Randall Telfer enters his third NFL campaign after seeing some significant playing time in 2016. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2015 draft, but a foot fracture he suffered in his final collegiate game left him on the shelf for the entire 2015 season. Telfer appeared in 14 games last year, catching only two passes. The bulk of his utilization was as an extra blocker in the running game.
Team Need: 4/10
Potential Draft Fits: David Njoku (Miami), Gerald Everett (South Alabama), Jake Butt (Michigan), Evan Engram (Mississippi), Bucky Hodges (Virginia Tech)
Left Tackle
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Scheme: Flex
Starter: Joe Thomas
NFL1000 Score: 79.7/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 5/40
Death, taxes and Joe Thomas have been the only absolutes in the lives of Cleveland fans the last 10 seasons.
Thomas has registered over 10,000 snaps over 160 career starts. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl all 10 seasons of his career and continues to play at an elite level, despite the lack of continuity around him.
What is truly impressive about the future Hall of Fame left tackle, though, is that every season he adds more tools to his skill set, which allows him to use new ways to win. Thomas has been mentioned in trade talks, but Thomas is still a key piece to the Browns' puzzle.
Backup: Matt McCants
NFL1000 Score: Did not have enough snaps to qualify
Matt McCants enters his fifth season as a pro after being the New York Giants' 2012 sixth-round draft pick out of the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
McCants spent 2013 through 2016 in Oakland and started three games in that stretch. He also spent part of 2016 in Cleveland and Chicago after being released by Oakland late in the season.
Team Need: 0/10
Potential Draft Fits: None. The team could consider bringing in camp competition via undrafted free agents.
Right Tackle
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Scheme: Flex
Starter: Shon Coleman
NFL1000 Score: Did not have enough snaps to qualify
Shon Coleman will enter his second season with a strong leg up in Cleveland's right tackle competition.
The team selected Coleman in the third round of the 2016 draft, and in limited game action, Coleman flashed promise and enough skill to gain the approval of Joe Thomas in a recent interview with Andrew Gribble of Cleveland's website.
Coleman possesses powerful run-blocking traits and shows fluidity in pass protection. The Browns need consistent play at right tackle—something they lacked all of 2016 after losing Mitchell Schwartz in free agency last spring.
Backup: Cameron Erving
NFL1000 Score: 66.5/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 33/38 (Graded at center)
Cam Erving started 12 games at center in 2016 before making a start at right tackle in Week 17.
Erving's play at center over the last two seasons has been up and down, with the low points being rock-bottom. Cleveland signed former Green Bay center JC Tretter, which was a clear indication the team has moved on from Erving—sort of.
First-round draft picks will get every chance possible to prove they can't play. Despite Erving's having major struggles at left tackle while at Florida State, which sparked the move to center, he will make the move to right tackle and compete with Coleman.
Team Need: 0/10
Potential Draft Fits: None. The team could consider bringing in camp competition via undrafted free agents.
Offensive Guard
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Scheme: Flex
Starter: Joel Bitonio
NFL1000 Score: 75.0/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 4/78
Joel Bitonio's a good young player, but his rank and score are a little misleading due to the fact that he only played five games last year. Nonetheless, his performance over the last few seasons was enough for the Browns to give him a big new contract (six years, $51.2 million) and make him one of the highest-paid guards in the league.
Starter: Kevin Zeitler
NFL1000 Score: 72.0/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 21/78
The Browns' interior offensive line splurge continued with Kevin Zeitler (five years, $60 million), as they replaced John Greco on the right side, given that he may not be ready for Week 1 coming off Lisfranc surgery.
Backup: John Greco
NFL1000 Score: 71.0/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 22/78
When (if, that is) Greco does return, he will likely ride the pine. The Browns will likely want to be safer than sorry with their depth, given all the injuries they faced on the interior last year. That said, Greco was close to Zeitler in terms of our grading, and although he may not be the same player after this injury, hopefully we'll get a chance to see him again.
Backup: Spencer Drango
NFL1000 Score: 67.5/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 65/78
Spencer Drango didn't grade out all that well as a rookie in 2016, but give him credit for being inconsistently below-average rather than glaringly bad at all times, which is more than can be said about several of the rookies we saw around the league last year. He should be a solid depth option following Greco's likely upcoming departure.
Team Need: 0/10
Potential Draft Fits: None
Center
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Scheme: Flex
Starter: JC Tretter
NFL1000 Score: 71.4/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 11/38
JC Tretter emerged in his big opportunity for the Packers last year, so much so that it appeared he had wrestled the starting job from Corey Linsley. But then Tretter hurt his knee, and Linsley looked good enough finishing off the year that Tretter was allowed to walk.
Tretter is a smooth athlete with great feet. His ability to mirror in pass protection is among the best in the league, and his skill set should be desirable to teams that feature a lot of zone-blocking looks.
Team Need: 0/10
Potential Draft Fits: None
Defensive End
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Scheme: 4-3 (Projected)
Starter: Emmanuel Ogbah
NFL1000 Score: 67.6/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 6/53 (Graded at 3-4 DE)
Emmanuel Ogbah had an impressive rookie season as a run defender and pass-rusher. After totaling 53 tackles and 5.5 sacks, Ogbah is seen as a player the Browns should build around.
As the Browns transition to more of an even front, the idea of Ogbah's playing both right and left defensive end and possibly kicking inside in nickel packages to rush the passer is sound. Obviously, most of this is dependent on their drafting Myles Garrett with the first overall pick, and that feels close to a guarantee at this point.
Backup: Carl Nassib
NFL1000 Score: 61.8/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 35/53 (Graded at 3-4 DE)
Carl Nassib had an up-and-down rookie season as he flashed early on, got injured (broken hand) and then had a rough stretch. Nassib looked like he might turn into a run-defending left defensive end who can provide some interior rush in nickel. It's not a good idea to put him on the edge as a pass-rusher as his career develops, though.
Backup: Tyrone Holmes
NFL1000 Score: Did not have enough snaps to qualify
Tyrone Holmes was claimed off waivers before last season started, and he showed he might be a solid speed-edge-rusher. He only ended up with one sack, but Holmes routinely applied pressure and provided athleticism for Cleveland's defense.
Team Need: 8/10
Potential Draft Fits: Myles Garrett (Texas A&M)
Defensive Tackle
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Scheme: 4-3 (Projected)
Starter: Danny Shelton
NFL1000 Score: 65.5/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 36/99
Danny Shelton had a strong sophomore season for the Browns, particularly versus the run. The Cleveland run defense was often extremely weak, but that wasn't Shelton's fault. He showed flashes as a pass-rusher this past season as well. Shelton will never be a dynamic interior rusher, so anything he gives in that regard will be a plus. If the Browns can add a penetrator next to him, or Xavier Cooper develops, Shelton will be able to face more single blocks.
Backup: Xavier Cooper
NFL1000 Score: 60.5/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 39/53 (Graded at 3-4 DE)
Xavier Cooper should see more opportunities at 3-technique under new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Cooper is a talented player with a strong first step, but he has yet to put it together in the NFL. This is a make or break third season for him.
Backup: Gabe Wright
NFL1000 Score: Did not have enough snaps to qualify
Gabe Wright spent the 2016 season on the Browns practice squad. His chances of making the team are slim, especially if Cleveland adds an interior player in the draft.
Team Need: 7/10
Potential Draft Fits: Caleb Brantley (Florida), Jaleel Johnson (Iowa), Chris Wormley (Michigan)
Outside Linebacker
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Scheme: 4-3 (Projected)
Starter: Jamie Collins
NFL1000 Score: 69.0/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 22/65
Cleveland acquired Jamie Collins from the New England Patriots in a surprise trade last October. The Browns moved their new linebacker all around the defense, using him on the edge in the base defense and on the inside in certain sub-packages.
Collins has a skill set that allows him to rush the quarterback, disrupt the run and drop into coverage from a variety of positions. The Browns gave him a four-year, $50 million extension, which means he'll likely get more opportunities to rush the passer in 2017.
Backup: Joe Schobert
NFL1000 Score: 62.4/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 61/65
A fourth-round pick last year, Joe Schobert earned a starting role to begin his rookie season but struggled mightily to provide impact off the edge. He finished with only a half-sack in 16 games. His lack of impact relegated him to mostly special teams duty to finish the year. The Wisconsin product didn't have the burst to win with speed or the power to set the edge as a rookie. Schobert needs to take a big step forward in his second season.
Backup: Cam Johnson
NFL1000 Scores: 64.7/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 44/65
The Browns signed Cam Johnson off the Cardinals' practice squad last October. He went on to play 12 surprisingly productive games for Cleveland, tallying three sacks and two forced fumbles over 350 defensive snaps. Johnson has the length and burst to contribute on the edge as a rotational pass-rusher. He's under contract through 2017.
Backup: Nate Orchard
NFL1000 Score: Did not have enough snaps to qualify
A severe ankle injury put Nate Orchard on injured reserve in October. Expected to take a big jump during his second season, Orchard played only 87 total snaps over three games in 2016. If healthy, he could factor into Cleveland's pass rush in 2017.
Team Need: 9/10
Potential Draft Fits: Myles Garrett (Texas A&M)
Inside Linebacker
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Scheme: 4-3 (Projected)
Starter: Christian Kirksey
NFL1000 Score: 69.5/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 32/65
Christian Kirksey is a solid player stuck on a poor team. Fortunately, the Cleveland Browns brought in Jamie Collins during the 2016 season, showing a commitment to their defense and specifically their linebacking unit.
Kirksey is a fantastic athlete, with the requisite change-of-direction skills to cover in space and the effort to chase down outside zone runs while fighting through traffic. The Browns simply need to develop an overall unit that provides stability around him, and Kirksey should play as an above-average starter.
Kirksey will never be a top-10 inside linebacker, but teams can win with him. While the Browns attack other more pressing needs in the draft, Kirksey should be safe as a starter for at least another year, if not longer. Cleveland doesn't have strong enough depth to replace quality players, and Kirksey may be one of the only guys on that defense who should feel comfortable in his starting role for 2017.
Backup: Demario Davis
NFL1000 Score: 66.9/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 51/65
Demario Davis is entering the final year of his contract and may look for a starting role as a free agent next season. Davis was far from spectacular prior to the Collins trade, though, a contributing factor to the Browns' seeking to bring in the former Patriot. Pair that with the large contract that the team gave Collins, and it's easy to see Davis' time winding down in Cleveland.
He's easily exploited in coverage and offers little as a pass-rusher. When your only ability is to be an adequate run defender, and rarely in space, it's hard to receive continued playing time. Expect Davis to move on from Cleveland after this season and, in the meantime, spend Sundays as the primary backup with little versatility.
Team Need: 1/10
Potential Draft Fits: None. The team could consider bringing in undrafted free agents as special teams depth.
Cornerback
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Scheme: Cover 1
Starter: Joe Haden
NFL1000 Score: 64.3/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 48/133
It's tough for a corner to play through any lower-body injury. Joe Haden was playing through two groin injuries in 2016, and it showed. He lacked any kind of explosiveness to stick with the premier receivers. As the season went on, Haden's play got worse. Usually he tracks No. 1 receivers, but that stopped.
Haden has been known for his ball skills. Prior to 2016, when healthy, his passes defensed hovered around 20 consistently. Haden only had 11 last year. It's tough to tell how much was injury, but he only played five games the year before, so it's safe to say that's a big reason.
At the same time, this is two subpar years in a row, and Haden's play is trending the wrong way. If he has another season like this, expect the Browns to move on.
Starter: Jamar Taylor
NFL1000 Score: 63.5/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 58/133
Jamar Taylor was the Browns' nickel corner and came on strong during the final six games. A castoff from the Dolphins, Taylor earned a contract extension of three years, $15 million. He deserves a chance to play on the outside. At 5'11", 192 pounds, he has the size to do so.
Cleveland didn't ask a lot of Taylor in coverage, but when it did, he came to play. His three interceptions and 13 passes defensed are more impressive when you realize he was mostly in an underneath zone role. So when you see that kind of on-ball production, it tells you Taylor was in position to make plays. When he got his opportunity he did just that.
In the second half of the season Taylor only had one poor performance. He was playing at a good level of consistency. Let's see how he plays with his new contact. He should be a valuable piece on this defense.
Starter: Briean Boddy-Calhoun
NFL1000 Score: 60.8/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 83/133
Briean Boddy-Calhoun opened his season with one of the worst performances we graded all year. Even with an interception that game, in Week 3, he did not look comfortable in coverage—to minimized fault of his own, though, as he was an undrafted rookie.
He struggled through Week 10. Then the light bulb came on. It's as if Boddy-Calhoun stopped overthinking and started playing ball. Over the final six games, his NFL1000 scores were an average of 66.6. That would put him in the low 30s in our rankings.
Boddy-Calhoun peaked in Week 12 when he gave up four catches on eight targets for only 33 yards from my personal charting. This was against a talented group of Giants receivers. He looked like a veteran. He was sound. Under control but aggressive at the same time. He'll likely have to prove himself to stay on the field in 2017, but he deserves a shot.
Team Need: 8/10
Potential Draft Fits: Gareon Conley (Ohio State), Kevin King (Washington), Chidobe Awuzie (Colorado), Fabian Moreau (UCLA), Marshon Lattimore (Ohio State)
Free Safety
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Scheme: Cover 1
Starter: Ibraheim Campbell
NFL1000 Score: 68.4/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 41/50
Due to a terrible safety situation, Ibraheim Campbell, the Browns' 2015 fourth-round pick, was forced into a starting role before he was ready. At times, he flashed good range, which gave him the ability to recover and stay with receivers that had beaten him downfield.
But ultimately, those flashes of range were too inconsistent, and he wasn't reliable enough in coverage to stay as the starting strong safety. He was benched for Ed Reynolds in the middle of the season and only saw the field down the stretch due to injuries.
Backup: Ed Reynolds
NFL1000 Score: 67.9/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 45/50
Reynolds has been a career backup since he was drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round in 2014. Most of his contributions have come on special teams and in spot snaps when the starter has been hurt. But after Campbell struggled with inconsistency, Reynolds was given an opportunity to show what he could do.
Reynolds was more reliable in coverage, as he played it safe. He would often align himself deeper than Campbell typically did and focused on staying on top of deep routes instead of trying to make other plays.
However, playing deeper made him vulnerable against the run, where he would often be late getting down to the line of scrimmage, causing him to take bad angles and miss tackles. Campbell and Reynolds should really be battling for a backup spot, so the Browns need to find a starter in the draft.
Team Need: 8/10
Potential Draft Fits: Malik Hooker (Ohio State), Marcus Williams (Utah), John Johnson (Boston College), Tedric Thompson (Colorado)
Strong Safety
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Scheme: Cover 1
Starter: Derrick Kindred
NFL1000 Score: 69.5/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 41/53
Derrick Kindred, like Ibraheim Campbell, was forced to start before he was ready. The 2016 fourth-round selection should have spent his rookie year behind an established starter as he adjusted to life in the NFL.
Unfortunately, the Browns couldn't afford to let him sit. He struggled in coverage, giving up a number of big plays, particularly when he matched up against tight ends in man coverage. He did flash potential as a box safety, filtering through traffic to find a running back and landing a few big hits. But his tackling was also inconsistent, as he missed just as many tackles as big hits that he landed. He's still not ready to start.
Backup: Tyvis Powell
NFL1000 Score: Did not have enough snaps to qualify
Tyvis Powell was an undrafted free agent in 2016 and spent the year as a backup in Seattle. He offers intriguing size at 6'3", 211 pounds, which is likely what caught the eye of the Seahawks' talent evaluators, but he hardly saw any playing time and was released in January. The Browns shouldn't expect him to be anything more than competition for a backup job in training camp.
Team Need: 8/10
Potential Draft Fits: Jamal Adams (LSU), Obi Melifonwu (Connecticut), Jabrill Peppers (Michigan), Budda Baker (Washington), Josh Jones (NC State)
Kicker
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Starter: Cody Parkey
NFL1000 Scores: 65.6/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 28/34
Cody Parkey is by no means a long-term solution in Cleveland, as the Browns brought in free-agent Brett Maher in March to add competition heading into the summer. Parkey's 7-of-12 showing on field goals between 40 and 49 yards was his downfall last season, as he was perfect from all other distances. He needs to show greater consistency to be an NFL kicker for an extended period.
Parkey has a strong leg, going 5-of-5 over his three-year NFL career on kicks over 50 yards, but the lack of consistent mechanics hurt him last year. The biggest thing for Parkey is repetition, but he will likely face competition all the way through camp, as I would not be surprised if the Browns use a late-round pick on a kicker, since they have 11 selections in the upcoming draft.
Team Need: 6/10
Potential Draft Fits: Andy Phillips (Utah), Jake Elliott (Memphis)
Punter
19 of 19
Punter: Britton Colquitt
NFL1000 Scores: 66.8/100
NFL1000 Position Rank: 14/34
Britton Colquitt signed a four-year extension with the Browns at the start of free agency that makes him the 10th-highest-paid punter in the NFL heading into 2017. This is fair value for Colquitt, as his outstanding directional game makes him an above-average punter despite slight underperformance in raw distance compared to the NFL average.
Colquitt had a phenomenal Super Bowl for the Broncos before being a surprise cut heading into the 2016 season, and while he did not perform up to the level we saw during that playoff run, he was a capable NFL punter. He is a reliable option for the Browns, and with a little under $6 million guaranteed over the next four years, he is likely not going anywhere anytime soon.
Team Need: 1/10
Potential Draft Fits: None
Advanced statistics provided by Pro Football Focus unless otherwise noted.
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