Cleveland Browns: John Dorsey’s draft haul making him look like a genius

The first draft class in general manager John Dorsey’s first tenure with the Cleveland Browns is already making him look like a genius.

There was a lot of pressure on Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey leading up to the 2018 NFL Draft.

The Browns were coming off an 0-16 season and had a boatload of ammunition to add talent to the roster. Dorsey was seen as the football guy that would know exactly what to do with that ammunition.

Having the first and fourth overall selections is a great situation to be in. The Browns were guaranteed a chance at getting two of the five best players in the class, and maybe even a chance at two of the top three players.

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But there is also a lot of pressure with those two picks. If Dorsey would make a surprise pick and that player does not succeed, there is a chance that the selection would hold the organization back for a few years.

With both picks, Dorsey surprised most NFL analysts when he selected Baker Mayfield and Denzel Ward. Mayfield was not seen as the best quarterback available, as many draft analysts felt that Sam Darnold was the best quarterback in the class. Ward was also perceived as a reach, as the feeling around the league was that Bradley Chubb was the best defensive player in the class.

Dorsey decided to pass on both Darnold and Chubb, sticking to the players he felt were the best fit for his football team. And through five games, Dorsey is starting to look like a genius for selecting Mayfield and Ward.

After playing only two and half games, Mayfield is looking like the next best quarterback in the league. He has all of the arm talent that a team would want from their quarterback. He is able to deliver sharp throws in places that gives his receivers the best chance at making the play.

In three games, Mayfield has completed 58.9 percent of his passes for 838 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions. He has also rushed the ball eight times for 31 yards.

But it is not his arm talent that has people so excited about Mayfield. Mayfield’s mentality might be the best attribute to his game. The Browns have been put into close games everytime Mayfield is under center. Each time, Mayfield has not wavered.

Mayfield seems to thrive in the big moments. He does not seem afraid, and his game does not get worse in the pressure packed moments. His leadership rubs off on the other players, and they all seem to step up their games. In only six months after being drafted, Mayfield is already the leader of the team.

Ward is also another player that has surprised people this season. The Browns wanted Ward because of his ability as a press corner. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams felt that with Ward on his defense, it would give the pass rush more time to get to the quarterback. And Williams was right.

No matter what coverage the Browns are in, Ward always seems to be in the right position. His agility allows him to break on balls that seem to be in the perfect position for the wide receiver. His awareness and ability to break on the ball has put him in position to intercept passes, and he has done just that.

In the five games this season, Ward has intercepted three passes and has six passes defended. But it is not only his coverage ability that has made Ward so good, it is how well he has tackled. Ward has already made 25 total tackles, including one for loss. He has also forced a fumble, recovered the fumble and took it 40 yards down the field.

Both Ward and Mayfield have been the best rookies in their position. They have both been named Rookies of the Week, and they are right at the top of the list for Rookie of the Year on their side of the ball.

Despite all the talk that the Browns should have drafted Darnold, Chubb, or Saquon Barkley, it already looks like that Dorsey made the right selections. Just looking at the first two picks in Dorsey’s first draft in Cleveland, he is already looking like the smartest general manager the Browns have had in a long time.