Dawg Pound Daily
FanSided

5 Cleveland Browns making an impression in training camp

By Randy Gurzi

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 21: Dontrell Hilliard #25 of the Cleveland Browns makes a 30-yard return during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 21, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 21: Dontrell Hilliard #25 of the Cleveland Browns makes a 30-yard return during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 21, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 07: Mark Fields #2 of the Clemson Tigers is tackled by Mack Wilson #30 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi’s Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 07: Mark Fields #2 of the Clemson Tigers is tackled by Mack Wilson #30 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi’s Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

4. Mack Wilson, Linebacker

Another player who went later in the draft than expected was Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson. Early in the 2018 season, there was some first-round hype around him but as the year went on he started to seem like more of a late-second or third-round pick. Even his former head coach with the Crimson Tide felt as though he needed to return for his senior season in order to refine his skills as a player.

Still, no one expected him to fall to the fifth round which is where the Browns snatched him up. And so far, it looks as though they got themselves a steal. As a rookie, Wilson won’t be expected to be an every-down linebacker but he can contribute and has been getting plenty of praise from defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.

"“I love his athleticism,” Wilks said via ClevelandBrowns.com. “When you look at him out in space, he plays well, good change of direction. When you look at the matchups throughout this league, a lot of times you do not really have safeties that can cover these big tight ends so you need a linebacker that can run. That is the mode that we have right now. He fits that mode right there being able to cover a tight end as well.”"

Not long after Wilks said these things about the rookie, he came up with his best play so far in camp as he made a diving interception and then rolled to his feet before running the ball back to the house for a pick-six.

https://twitter.com/Browns/status/1157441130751021056?s=20

It’s been no secret that general manager John Dorsey wanted to add talent and depth to the linebacker corps and did just that this offseason. Wilson was the second selection in the 2019 NFL Draft after they took Sione Takitaki out of BYU in the third round.

They also added free agent Adarius Taylor who was coming off his best season as a pro with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. All three have been everything Cleveland expected but Wilson could wind up being the biggest steal of them all should he hit his ceiling.

Home/Browns News