Cleveland Browns: What to expect from the 2017 draft picks
By Shane Carter
DeShone Kizer
His completion percentage went from 62.9 to 58.7 in his two seasons, however, his TD:INT ratio went from 21:10 to 26:9. He rushed for a career total of 997 yards and 18 touchdowns, but his record as a starter was only 12-11. So you take the good with the bad.
Hopefully the Browns don’t do what they and other teams have done in the past and rush Kizer to the field before he is ready. I don’t expect Kizer to be the day one starter ahead of Cody Kessler.
If the team really sees a future with this kid then they’ll need to groom him for when he is ready. He came in raw so now is the growing process. Don’t expect for him to play this season, if at all, until he needs to.
Larry Ogunjobi
This guy has quickly become a fan favorite, and for good reason. In the new 4-3 defense this season, he is the projected starter alongside Danny Shelton. The team ranked 31st against the run last season and that is where Ogunjobi will help the most early on. In two seasons at UNC-Charlotte he totaled 29 tackles for loss.
Given the sizes of both Danny Shelton (6-foot-2, 335 pounds) and Larry Ogunjobi (6-foot-3, 300 pounds), respectfully, Shelton looks like he will play the 1-tech, with Ogunjobi playing the 3. Throw Ogbah and Garrett on the outside and the team should see a big turnaround up front.
Howard Wilson
In his final season at the University of Houston, Wilson totaled five interceptions. Something the Browns need. However, this selection is good news/bad news. Bad news: Wilson broke his kneecap. Good news: it won’t require season-ending surgery.
Related: 2017 training camp position preview: The cornerbacks
Wilson looks like he could return around the beginning of the season but he will miss valuable practice time. I’m not sure what impact he will have but I’m going to assume he won’t hit his stride until midseason. So he will initially only be there to serve as depth behind Joe Haden, Jamar Taylor and Jason McCourty.
Roderick Johnson
Joe Thomas is and will continue to be the starter at left tackle, and the right tackle looks like it’s a two-man race between Shon Coleman and Cam Erving (my money’s on Shon). So Roderick Johnson is merely a project for the future, and could be an eventual successor for Joe Thomas.
Barring an unbelievable training camp and preseason where he beats out Coleman and Erving for the right side, or something happens to Joe Thomas, Johnson’s role will only be as the swing tackle to back up both sides.