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Cleveland Browns: 3 pleasant surprises this season

By Martin McConnell

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 07: Rashard Higgins #81 of the Cleveland Browns makes a touchdown catch in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 07: Rashard Higgins #81 of the Cleveland Browns makes a touchdown catch in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Oakland Raiders outruns Genard Avery #55 of the Cleveland Browns at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 30, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Oakland Raiders outruns Genard Avery #55 of the Cleveland Browns at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 30, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

3. Genard Avery

Late-round draft picks haven’t been very kind to the Cleveland Browns lately. In fact, very few draft picks have been friendly to the Browns since coming back to the league in 1999.

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The Browns have sputtered, time and again, simply because they cannot hit on their draft picks. That makes the acquisition of fifth-round linebacker Genard Avery all the sweeter.

Avery has seen his fair share of snaps already this season, and has gotten some major love from Pro Football Focus as a rookie edge rusher. Avery is one of the top-ranked rookie pass rushers in the NFL right now, grading out highly for even his secondary position.

Following his tenure at Memphis, many looked at Avery as a possible “steal of the draft” candidate. His thick build, and speed-size combination made him a great sleeper for the 2018 class. The Browns took a chance on a linebacker who had some potential, and lo and behold, it paid off for them.

You don’t have to hit on all your picks in a draft class, but it seems that the Browns have hit on about four or five. That’s a rather healthy draft for just one year, and Genard Avery is a big reason why the Browns’ defense has seen so much success in 2018.

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