Cleveland Browns: Grading the first-round picks

An in-depth look and grade assignment for the Cleveland Browns first-round picks of quarterback Baker Mayfield and cornerback Denzel Ward

It took about 30 minutes for fans of the Cleveland Browns to know the fate of the first and fourth overall picks in the 2018 NFL draft. The team selected Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield first overall, followed by Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward. Here’s how I grade the first two selections for the Cleveland Browns.

The reactions from fans and media were all over on Twitter, with some praising the picks, and others lambasting general manager John Dorsey and head coach Hue Jackson. The team made two great selections though, choosing to go with talent and players that can turn the team around from day one.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield: Grade — A

The selection of Baker Mayfield is one that I love. I have said since the NFL Combine that Mayfield would be my selection if I ran the team and wanted a game-changing quarterback.

It’s hard to argue the results he had in college. A former walk-on at Texas Tech, who then transfers and walks on at Oklahoma, wins the job, and wins the Heisman trophy his final season. All that, while having a career 70-percent completion percentage and leading his team to the 2017 College Football Playoff as a former walk-on at two schools, makes this a solid pick for the Cleveland Browns.

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Mayfield is a straight winner, who has consistently won and led his team to new heights each year of his starter. He has moxie, and while he comes across as arrogant, will come in and immediately be a leader on a team starving for one on the offensive side of the ball.

Most of all, he isn’t afraid to be the next name on the back of the infamous Browns’ quarterback jersey. Mayfield wants to come in and compete with quarterback Tyrod Taylor to be the man under center this year. He wants to be the face of the franchise and the man that turns around the misfortunes of this franchise. If anyone can do it out of this quarterback class, it’s Mayfield.

Cornerback Denzel Ward: Grade- B+

Cleveland’s selection of cornerback Denzel Ward came as a shock to some, but not those closest to the Brown’s new shot caller, John Dorsey. He has come in and made the changes that the team needed, and has filled every hole that the team had he could. Coming into the draft, it was known he wouldn’t sit by and would do everything to fill those remaining holes with young talent in the draft.

While many were hoping to get an edge rusher with the fourth overall pick and get a cornerback by trading back into the first round or with one of the team’s three second round selections, Ward is a great pick. The cornerback only had two interceptions in his Ohio State career, but his 24 pass breakups in two seasons as a starter show his ability to find the football and make big plays.

Ward will come in and be a day one starter for the secondary. With the trade of Jason McCourty this offseason, there is an opening at cornerback. Ward will likely compete with the veterans on the roster for that position, but he has the skillset and talent to become a starter for this defense for the next decade.

This defense has talent all over the field, and with the addition of Ward, they will only get better. This defense was better than what they showed in the statistics, largley due to their offense leaving them on the field so often.

With the additions to the offense already made this season, and more to come in the NFL Draft, that is going to change. Cleveland is set for success with these two coming into The Dawg Pound.

Next: Top 15 Browns first round picks

Things are already looking up under the new regime of John Dorsey. Let’s sit back and watch as he continues to improve this team. In Dorsey We Trust.

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