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Cleveland Browns: Which rookies will make the biggest impact?

By Randy Gurzi

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 24: Sheldrick Redwine #22 of the Miami Hurricanes knocks down a pass intended for Jester Weah #85 of the Pittsburgh Panthers on November 24, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 24: Sheldrick Redwine #22 of the Miami Hurricanes knocks down a pass intended for Jester Weah #85 of the Pittsburgh Panthers on November 24, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, WI – SEPTEMBER 15: Head coach Kalani Sitake of the BYU Cougars celebrates with Sione Takitaki #16 after the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. BYU won 24-21. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI – SEPTEMBER 15: Head coach Kalani Sitake of the BYU Cougars celebrates with Sione Takitaki #16 after the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. BYU won 24-21. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

4. Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU

After adding Greedy Williams with their first pick, most of us expected the Browns to take a safety with their next choice. However, linebacker Christian Kirksey was sent to the podium to announce the selection as he called out Sione Takitaki out of BYU.

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He may not have been a household name, but Takitaki made an impression on the Browns front office. Assistant general manager Eliot Wolf recently discussed the impact the young man made on him when he started watching the film on the former BYU team captain and said he was simply “out there destroying people.”

"“I start watching the film and I think it was the Wisconsin game, the second game of the year, and this guy is just out there destroying people,” Wolf said on Cleveland Browns Daily according to Nick Shook of ClevelandBrowns.com. “I was like ‘huh, I don’t think this is going to be a wasted (scouting) trip at all.'”"

Takitaki’s path to the NFL wasn’t an easy one. He was suspended several times and didn’t play football at all in 2016 due to his issues. However, he worked his way back into the team’s good graces and has become a success story as he made the most of his second chance. He also made huge strides as a player in 2018, recording a career-high 119 tackles.

As a rookie for the Browns, he likely sees most of his action on special teams. Eventually, he should work his way into the starting lineup for them and be a strong contributor. However, Cleveland is suddenly deep at this position and it will take time for him to become a member of the base defense.

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