Cleveland Browns: 3 injured prospects worth the risk in 2019 NFL Draft

The Cleveland Browns suddenly talented roster gives them some flexibility in the 2019 NFL Draft, and they could use that to gamble on some injured prospects with plenty of upside

Not every player goes into the NFL Draft at the perfect time. This has been seen in the past with players such as running back Willis McGahee, linebacker Jaylon Smith, and cornerback Sidney Jones are all examples of players who saw their stock fall due to an injury ahead of their rookie seasons.

While most recover and end up having good careers, the fact that they could miss most — if not all — of their first season weighs heavily on the teams that are kicking the tires on these prospects.

This year, there are a few such players in the 2019 NFL Draft — three of which play positions of need for the Cleveland Browns. With that being said, let’s look at some prospects with health concerns that could be worth the risk.

USC pass rusher Porter Gustin isn’t a household name, but he put up some great numbers in his career with the Trojans — but it still feels like he left a lot on the table.

After netting 5.5 sacks in each of his first two seasons, the injuries started to pile up for Gustin. A biceps injury and broken toe cost him most of his junior campaign and then a broken ankle sidelined him for most of his senior season.

Even with the limited time, Gustin showed a knack for getting after the quarterback. In just six games in 2018, he had 7.5 sacks and 28 tackles. Even with that kind of production, he’s low on just about every draft board.

There are concerns outside of his injury, but Gustin could be a late-round addition that serves as a rotational pass rusher. And the Browns are in need of some depth in that area.