Cleveland Browns 2019 NFL Draft: Mack Wilson selection grade, reaction

The Cleveland Browns were able to make another good value pick, selecting Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson in the fifth round.

The Cleveland Browns have been focusing on the defensive side of the ball during the 2019 NFL Draft. That continued in the fifth round when they selected Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson.

Linebacker was seen as a need in the draft for the Browns because of their lack of depth at the position. After releasing Jamie Collins earlier in the offseason, the Browns signed Adarius Taylor in free agency and drafted Sione Takitaki in the third round.

Both Taylor and Takitaki are seen as role players who will either play on special teams or in sub-packages. But Wilson is a player who has the potential of being a three-down linebacker for the Browns defense.

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Wilson was viewed as one of the better linebackers in the class and was expected to be selected in the first three rounds of the draft. But as Wilson started to slide in the draft, reports surfaced that there were attitude questions with the Alabama product.

Matt Miller of Bleacher Report graded Wilson as the third best linebacker in the class. Despite not developing much in his final season with the Crimson Tide, Miller thinks Wilson can step in day one and be an immediate starter.

"“Wilson was a solid starter at Alabama and comes with all of the normal Crimson Tide linebacker traits of speed, toughness and production. He has proven chops on third downs but has seemed to plateau on his growth and development. He’s a high-floor, low-ceiling player, but he should be a long-term NFL starter.” – Miller, Bleacher Report"

There were not many players who were still available who are as talented as Wilson. Although there may be concerns about Wilson’s attitude, John Dorsey is not going to pass on a talented player like Wilson this late in the draft because of attitude concerns.

And the Browns will have some intel on Wilson’s attitude because of defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi, who was the Alabama defensive coordinator last season and the linebackers coach from 2016-2018.

If Wilson can step in immediately and be a starter for the Cleveland Browns defense, this is a great selection. Wilson may not have much more potential to tap into, but the player he currently is will provide help to the middle of the Browns defense.

Grade: A