2015 NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns Draft Class Recap
By Paul Noel
7th Rd – 241st Overall
Sep 6, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (14) catches the ball before the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu
The Cleveland Browns selected Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft with the 241st selection.
The 5-foot-9, 192-pound Ekpre-Olomu was a consensus All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2014, as well as a Jim Thorpe Award finalist as one of the nation’s top defensive backs. But he suffered a season-ending knee injury in December during practice for Rose Bowl and was unable to work out for teams prior to the draft.
According to his NFL.com draft profile, Ekpre-Olomu is a:
"“Very fluid mover. He can transition like his hips are on a swivel and he has the foot quickness in tight spaces to match. Instinctive and alert. Will transition from man or zone coverage and become a willing tackler against crossing routes that enter his side of the field. Not a robotic defender — adjusts on the fly as plays unfold. Uses the boundary effectively. Doesn’t shy away from tackling. Competitive and won’t prematurely open up out of fear. Tracks the ball effectively and has plus ball skills. Mentally tough and twitchy. Playmaking tendencies. Aggressive for size in press coverage. Has experience outside and in the slot. Projected as an NFL gunner on special teams."
Ekpre-Olomu wa considered a first-round talent by some before his injury, and for now he is most notable for
collecting on a $3 million insurance policy
after not being selected in the first two rounds of the draft. Prior to his injury Ekpre-Olomu was an athletic defender who had a nose for the ball, as he had nine interceptions, forced eight fumbles and recovered one fumble during his time at Oregon. You never know how a player will respond to an injury, but if Ekpre-Olomu can return to his previous level, this could be one of the steals of the draft. The selection of Ekpre-Olomu means the general manager Ray Farmer selected seven players from the Pac-12 – Danny Shelton, Nate Orchard, Xavier Cooper, Vince Mayle, Randall Telfer and Hayes Pullard. Ekpre-Olomu also joins Louisville’s Charles Gaines as cornerbacks selected by the Browns, which makes us wonder how confident the team really is in 2014 first-round selection Justin Gilbert.
What do you think of this draft class? Do you think the Browns made the right picks?
Next: Browns Putting Foundation in Place
The video clips were provided courtesy of DraftBreakdown.com