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Cleveland Browns 2019 NFL Draft: Austin Seibert grade, reaction

By Randy Gurzi

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 02: Place kicker Austin Seibert #43 of the Oklahoma Sooners on the sidelines before the game against the UTEP Miners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated UTEP 56-7. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) *** local caption *** Austin Seibert;
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 02: Place kicker Austin Seibert #43 of the Oklahoma Sooners on the sidelines before the game against the UTEP Miners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated UTEP 56-7. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) *** local caption *** Austin Seibert; /
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The Cleveland Browns made their first non-defensive pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by taking Oklahoma kicker Austin Seibert at No. 170. What is the instant reaction and draft grade?

Last season, the Cleveland Browns could have very well started out 2-0, had it not been for their kicking woes. After those two contests, they released Zane Gonzalez and brought in undrafted rookie Greg Joseph.

Joseph ended up playing well, but he had the occasional knuckleball kick that gave fans heart issues. He still was better than expected, going 17-of-20 on field goals but struggled on extra points — missing four of them. There was little doubt that Joseph would have competition this season and when no free agents were added, the draft seemed to be the most likely source.

That came to fruition in the later portion of the fifth round as the Browns took Oklahoma kicker Austin Seibert with the 170th overall selection. Seibert was one of the best kickers in the nation, finishing his career with just under 80 percent accuracy. However, he improved dramatically the past two seasons, including going 17-of-19 on field goals and 87-of-88 on extra points in 2018 (yes, 88 extra point tries).

In addition to field goals, Seibert handled all the kickoffs and punts for the Sooners as well, averaging 41.7 yards per punt on 179 kicks.

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Seibert coming in via a fifth-round pick means there will be no competition, this job is his. It still feels like a little early to be going for a kicker, but if he knocks through a few clutch ones during close contests, no one will care.

Grade: B-

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