Cleveland Browns appear to have done their homework on Caleb Brantley
The Cleveland Browns took a public relations risk by drafting Caleb Brantley, but the criminal charges against him have been dropped.
The Cleveland Browns received good news this afternoon, as the battery claims against Caleb Brantley have been dismissed.
Brantley was a sixth-round pick by the Browns, but entered April as a potential first or second-round pick. That all changed when he was accused of assaulting a woman before the draft.
Even though the claim had not gone through the legal process, it was enough that teams kept passing on Brantley until the Browns finally made the decision to take him on the final day of the draft.
And now that the charges are dismissed, it appears to have been a smart, researched move.
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We must all remember that the dismissal does not mean he is completely innocent in the same way that the complaint being filed meant he was guilty. Everyone will have their own opinion on the witnesses and the investigation, but Brantley will indeed be competing for a roster spot this fall.
So unless anything changes, we can begin analyzing Brantley solely based on his football abilities.
For the first time in a long time, the Browns are actually filled with talent on the defensive line.
Myles Garrett, Danny Shelton and Emmanuel Ogbah are the big names, but others like Carl Nassib and Jamie Meder figure to receive a lot of time on the field in 2017.
So as of right now, Brantley is still not a sure thing to make the final roster. The Browns currently have 12 defensive linemen on the 90-man roster, which has to be cut down to 53 by the time the season begins.
But from a draft value standpoint, it was a good risk for the Browns to take. Sashi Brown even came out and said the team would cut ties if Brantley was charged, so it was a low-risk, potentially high-reward move.
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All the team can go off if the legal decision, and as there is not any incriminating evidence to be seen, it is hard to blame the Browns for the decision.