Cleveland Browns: 4 Undrafted free agents from 2019 that can be starters
The Cleveland Browns did not have a super rookie class in 2019, but there are some undrafted rookies who may emerge in 2020.
From outward appearances, the 2019 Cleveland Browns did not have a strong rookie class, but there are at least four longshots among the undrafted rookies that could emerge in 2020 to contribute and possibly even become starters.
Their best players from the 2019 rookie class, so far at least, were both kickers: undrafted punter Jamie “The Scottish Hammer” Gillan, and Round 5 pick placekicker Austin (“The Belleville Booter”) Seibert. The drafted players were:
CB Greedy Williams: Round 2, Pick 14 (46)
LB Sione Takitaki: Round 3, Pick 17 (80)
S Sheldrick Redwine: Round 4, Pick 17 (119)
LB Mack Wilson: Round 5, Pick 17 (155)
K Austin Seibert: Round 5, Pick 32 (170)
G Drew Forbes: Round 6, Pick 17 (189)
CB Donnie Lewis Jr.: Round 7, Pick 7 (221)
The Browns started Greedy Williams at cornerback and Mack Wilson at linebacker with modest results. Williams was graded 93rd at his position by Pro Football Focus, and Wilson was graded 83rd.
They were borderline starters at best for 2019 but both should do better in their second year. In small data samples, the best rookie grades belong to Sione Takitaki and Sheldrick Redwine. Redwine was graded by PFF as 51st among safeties. If Takitaki had had more games reps with the same grades, he would have graded at about 32nd among linebackers, or better than average among NFL starters.
Sixth-round pick Drew Forbes was injured and went on IR for a time. He might have been headed towards a starting gig at right guard before he was hurt.
In summary, several Browns rookies players were at least borderline starters, but in the first year, none of the non-kickers were above average. They need to step up their games, and probably they will show improvement in their second year.
But there are also some players who were undrafted rookies. The Scottish Hammer immediately became a star, but the others did not make much noise. Still, four of them have at least a longshot chance to develop into starters. We can start with Stephen Carlson, the tight end out of Ivy League Princeton University, who made a good impression as a blocking tight end.