The Cleveland Browns rolled the dice on a wide receiver with some character issues. If the Browns can help reign in the off-field issues, this pick is a steal.
The Cleveland Browns are adding playmakers. In the 2018 NFL Draft, the Browns loaded up on guys who can make a difference on the field. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is the definition of a playmaker. Nick Chubb and Denzel Ward are significant playmakers as well.
But the most interesting pick was a wide receiver playmaker out of the university of Florida, Antonio Callaway. There are plenty of off field issues to address with Callaway.
But before tackling those issues, his tape is worth a look.
Florida vs Kentucky 2016
From the tape a few things are evident. First, Callaway is fast. He can flat out run. He is also very quick. The quickness in space is his greatest asset as Florida used him as their primary weapon. Their offense tried to get Callaway the ball in space then allow his natural ability to take over. He gets a lot of YAC and when he runs forward, is a severe threat in the kick return game. He will make the team for his special teams ability alone. His value lies in his explosiveness and ability to create explosive plays.
Second, Callaway has a lot of work to do. He is the quintessential player who has relied on his speed and is underdeveloped at the position. His routes look good at times. At other times, not so much. It seems he has never really committed to learning the game or the position. He has ball security issues. He will drop passes (assuming good quarterback play).
Callaway is the perfect athlete for what John Dorsey seems to be building in Cleveland. The coaching staff needs to get him focused on football and learning the game. Potential over production guy, even though there was a lot of production. That is a lot of production when he was on the field.
The old cliché is that a player’s best ability is their availability. Antonio Callaway has been unavailable during his college career due to a pattern of inexcusable behavior. Herein lies the true risk of the pick.
But this is the NFL, if a player can make plays, there will be place for him to play (unless he brings unnecessary media drama ala Colin Kaepernick or Johnny Manziel). Antonio Callaway has the potential to make plays. Therefore someone was going to give him a shot. The Browns are lucky that team is them.
Off Field Concerns
Antonio Callaway has a myriad of off field concerns. He was involved with a credit card scam, smoking marijuana and an alleged sexual assault. Teams were very aware of the concerns before heading into the draft. John Dorsey repeatedly states in his press conference that they did their homework.
John Dorsey Press Conference
Browns fans and some reporters are upset with the Browns taking a low character guy like Antonio Callaway. But there are a few things that should be remembered.
First, John Dorsey passed over Derrius Guice for Nick Chubb due to character concerns. Although it cannot be proven and nobody will talk about it, Derrius Guice was a better running back in the draft than Nick Chubb. Guice had the cleaner medical. But Chubb had one thing Guice did not, he had a cleaner off the field record and personality concerns. John Dorsey took Chubb over Guice when Guice was the better on field player. So the idea that Dorsey is out there picking players without regard to off field concerns is ridiculous.
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Second, like Dorsey states, the fourth round is the place to take people with character concerns like this. Remember the Browns had to trade up to get Callaway. This means another team was willing to take him just like the Browns were. Other players over the years have been taking in this range with character concerns.
For example, Tyreek Hill in Kansas City fell in the draft due to character concerns. Another player that fell was linebacker Justin Houston. Oh, how Browns fans lament not drafting Justin Houston!
Cleveland’s very own Caleb Brantley fell in the draft last year. In fact, when he was taken, then executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown came out and stated they would cut him if certain allegations were true. Nobody is complaining about these players now (except to complain they are not on the Browns).
Third, the marijuana issue with the current make up of the wide receiver room is overblown. Some say the drug test at the combine is an intelligence test. The fact that Callaway failed it is a red flag and raises concerns about his commitment to football. But remember, Jabrill Peppers had a diluted sample at the combine as well. He failed the combine drug test.
There are programs and special considerations put in place to help players with issues like this. It must be working for the Browns because Jabrill Peppers has not failed another test, wide receiver Josh Gordon seems to be getting his life back together and there are players that the fans are unaware of that are succeeding in the program as well.
Take the chance…
Intelligent teams do not draft players with serious off field concerns in the first-round (forget Manziel because that was not intelligent). Teams pick players with talent that have no off-field concerns before they take players with concerns. Those players are punished by losing money by falling in the draft.
Players with serious off field concerns fall in the draft for a reason. They fall because teams are concerned for their reputations, having to deal with problem players and the safety of their cities. But if the team can create an environment where two or three players with problems can be held accountable, then they should take a chance on a player.
Antonio Callaway after Pro-Day
https://twitter.com/JoeInTippCity/status/990400038248570880
Who else are teams drafting in the fourth round? Seriously, if a player falls to the fourth round that has major off-field concerns, then that is the place to take him. Teams who take a chance on players in round four will sometimes be rewarded, aka Caleb Brantley. It is like buying a lottery ticket. Sure, it will probably be a loser. But if you win, you win big!
Antonio Callaway is the perfect fourth round pick. He has major talent and major upside. If he can say out of trouble and learn his position, he will be a steal. Most fourth round picks are marginal players anyway. They barely make the team and only contribute on special teams. Here is a pick that has major potential and good college production. Why not take a chance?
Browns fans are still living in the aftermath of the Johnny Manziel stupidity. The Browns clearly did not do their homework when it came to Manziel. Nor did they have a plan in place to handle the issues when they arose.
This is not Johnny Manziel. It is a first round talent wide receiver taken in the fourth round. Callaway has zero expectations coming out of college. There will be no pressure except that of getting his life together.
Browns fans are once bitten twice shy. It is time to heal and move on. Good teams in the NFL makes moves like this. The Browns are becoming a good team. Better start getting used to moves like this.
Next: Grades for Browns picks in 2018 NFL Draft
If Callaway makes it, John Dorsey will be hailed as a genius.
If he flames out, cut him. Story over.