The Cleveland Browns had a busy day on the first day of the 2017 NFL Draft, drafting three players and making a surprising trade.
Myles Garrett? Mitch Trubisky? Fans and reporters had mixed signals and opinions on what the Cleveland Browns would do with the first overall selection. Unlike previous years where the team with the first pick practically announces their selection, the Browns held their cards tight up until 8 p.m. Perhaps the Mitch Trubisky buzz was leaked by the Browns themselves to be used as a smokescreen to bait other organizations.
However, when the Browns pick was in, the clear top player was drafted in Myles Garrett. In addition to Garrett, the Browns wheeled and dealed, making two trades Thursday night and ending up with a total of three first-round picks.
Later in the first round the team drafted defensive playmaker, Jabrill Peppers followed by tight end David Njoku. The front office’s philosophy became clear Thursday night. The team is no way going to force the issue of taking a quarterback just to take one.
The front office, led by Sashi Brown, added three young talented players that can come to Cleveland and make an immediate impact. Despite not drafting a quarterback you cannot fault them for passing for other areas. Here are the immediate grades on the Browns moves Friday night.
Myles Garrett, Defensive End, Texas A&M
Myles Garrett, no matter what. Despite misleading reports hours leading up to the draft, the Browns held true to their draft board in the selection of Myles Garrett.
Garrett was widely considered the best prospect for months leading up to the draft. The 6-foot-4 defensive end gives Gregg Williams’ defense an explosive edge rusher to build around. In his three seasons at A&M, Garrett compiled 47 tackles for loss and 31 sacks.
The Browns ranked 30th in the league a year ago with only 26 team sacks. Garrett will provide an immediate source of pass rushing ability. The 21-year-old pass rusher contains All-Pro potential and has even drawn comparisons to Julius Peppers. The Browns should feel confident they have selected a player in Garrett that will be causing chaos in AFC North backfields for the next decade.
Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller commented on how good Myles Garrett is as a prospect:
"“I can’t recall many players like Garrett in all my time covering the draft. He’s an elite athlete with exceptional character and production. You never want to say can’t miss… but he’s pretty damn close.”"
The Browns defensive line now has the makings of a solid front. In Gregg Williams’ defense Garrett will be an every down defensive end opposite of Emmanuel Ogbah, with Danny Shelton in the middle of the unit.
Garrett is truly a special talent which doesn’t come around often in the draft. Browns fans should be excited with the Garrett selection alone to give the team a positive draft grade. Don’t take Myles Garrett for granted because he is going to be a special playmaker for the defense for a long time.
Trade with Houston
With many talented prospects on the board such as Malik Hooker, Jonathan Allen and Deshaun Watson, the Browns decided to bypass on these options at No. 12 overall and trade back with the Houston Texans.
The Browns received pick No. 25 and the Texans’ 2018 first-rounder in exchange for No. 12. The Texans were desperate to pull off the trade to move up to select a quarterback. In the Browns’ case, the team did not feel comfortable drafting Watson and couldn’t refuse a trade that gives the team more draft capital and flexibility next season.
The Browns went down 13 spots in the first round in this year’s draft to gain an additional first-rounder next year. In 2018 the Browns control the draft yet again with two first-round picks and three second-round picks. While fans were outraged that a difference maker wasn’t selected at No. 12, the value of still having a first-rounder in 2017 while adding a future first-rounder was a win-win situation.
Sashi Brown and company simply did not feel like Deshaun Watson was their “guy” and that is why they traded out.
It is unfair to fault the front office for not forcing the pick if they weren’t comfortable with it. So that in itself is a win and then factor in an extra first-rounder next year. The Browns could have messed this up a lot worse.
Jabrill Peppers, Athlete, Michigan
After trading down to pick No. 25, the selection of Jabrill Peppers was a surprise to most. This week Peppers was in the news for the wrong reasons because it was announced he tested positive for a diluted urine sample at the NFL combine.
However, Sashi Brown and Hue Jackson felt comfortable with the information they had on Peppers and made him the selection. Peppers on the field is interesting. At Michigan he was a hybrid do-it-all type player. He played linebacker, safety, running back, and was a kick and punt returner.
Jim Harbaugh used Peppers’ freakish athletic ability to use him in multiple roles across the field. Experts are saying Peppers having no true position is a negative, however NFL Network’s Mike Mayock views it as a positive:
"“One of the my favorite players in the draft. He brings explosive energy in the locker room. The question is his ball skills and ball production. I say forget about all of that. Have a plan for this kid. When people say it’s a negative that they don’t know how to play him, I see it as a positive.”"
Sure there are questions about where his natural position will be within an NFL defense. At 5-foot-11, 213 pounds, he is considered undersized to be an every down linebacker and lacks production playing in the secondary.
Last year he had no pass deflections and only one interception. However, new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams gets an athletic weapon to line up in multiple positions all over his defensive fronts.
The Browns will play to Peppers’ strengths and use him as a run stopping strong safety in their defense. If the Browns pair Peppers with a ballhawking safety the pick will look a lot better. Peppers is better against the run than against the pass right now and the defense still lacks a coverage player in the secondary.
In addition, Peppers’ speed and athleticism made him an explosive kick and punt returner at Michigan and will give the Browns an added dimension on special teams. If the Browns have a plan in place for him the potential to hit a home run with this selection is there.
David Njoku, Tight End, Miami (Florida)
Just when everyone thought the Browns’ night was over the Browns traded back into the first-round to make a third first-round selection. The Browns traded up with the Green Bay Packers for the No. 29 overall pick.
In the deal the Browns gave up No. 33, the first pick of the second round Friday night and No. 108 overall. With the selection, the front office made another surprise in the selection of David Njoku. Njoku is only 20 years old and is still growing into his large 6-foot-4, 250 pound frame. At Miami he caught 64 passes for 1,060 yards and nine touchdowns in two seasons.
Njoku gives the Browns’ tight end position more athleticism to go along with 6-foot-3 Seth DeValve, who was drafted in the fourth round in 2016. Njoku is extremely raw at the position but he is an athletic freak who is a mismatch nightmare.
The hope for Njoku is to continue to develop him to be an all-around inline tight end. For now, Njoku will succeed on his pure athletic ability and give the Browns offense a huge weapon where he can line up and be a big slot receiver or on the line.
Overall, the Browns had an exceptional opening night of the draft. Not only did the Browns come away with by far the most talented player in Myles Garrett, they were able to make two more selections while also adding a first-round pick for next year. Through the selections of Garrett, Peppers and Njoku, it become evident what types of players this current front office is coveting.
All three players are 21 years old or younger and all have elite athletic traits that are off the charts. The organization is putting its emphasis on acquiring young athletic talent that they can mold into the players they want.
Additionally, none of the three first-round selections by the Browns have ever had a surgery.
Next: 3 takeaways from Round 1
The picks of Garrett and Peppers gives Gregg Williams’ defense two elite talents to build the defensive scheme around. In Njoku, the offense adds another much-needed big-bodied target for whoever is the starting quarterback.