There were only a few surprises during the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but that left some top players available for the Cleveland Browns on day two of the draft.
This year, 10 of the top-25 players in the NFL draft, as ranked by Pro Football Focus, are surprisingly still on the board and potentially available for the Cleveland Browns.
Every year, Pro Football Focus rates rookies in the NFL draft, and also grades NFL players based on every play. Of course no one is infallible, but they are generally on the money with their evaluations.
Hence players ranked in the their top-25 list of players certainly contains some major talent, but 10 of those players did not get their name called Thursday night. Since the Browns are drafting No. 9 overall in the second round, at least two will be available when it is the Browns’ turn.
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Thus, the 10 players on PFF’s top-25 who are still on the board include:
12. Cornerback Kristian Fulton, LSU Tigers
14. Tackle Josh Jones, University of Houston Cougars
15. Safety Grant Delpit, LSU Tigers
18. Wide Receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. Colorado Buffaloes
19. Safety Xavier MicKinney, Alabama Crimson Tide
20. EDGE A.J. Epenesa, Iowa Hawkeyes
22. Wide receiver Michael Pittman, Jr., USC Trojans
23. Defensive tackle, Jordan Elliott, Missouri Tigers
24. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson, Utah Utes
25. Wide receiver Tee Higgins, Clemson.
Positionally, the Browns could use some help at linebacker, but none of the 10 players listed are a linebacker. However, there are several defensive backs, including Kristian Fulton and Grant Delpit of LSU, both of whom should go early.
Xavier McKinney would be a familiar face for fellow Alabama alum and Browns first round pick Jedrick Wills. Jaylon Johnson is a corner from Utah who is on the list and could survive till ninth overall in the second round.
Would the Browns consider drafting another offensive tackle with Jedrick Wills already selected? Houston Cougar Josh Jones is just sitting there, all 6-foot-7 and 310 pounds of him. Most analysts had him going in the mid to late first round. He is so good, the Browns might have to take him, and then have one player convert to guard.
There are also linemen in A. J. Epenesa from Iowa and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott from the Missouri Tigers.
The talented 10 is rounded out by receivers Michael Pittman Jr. of the USC Trojans and Tee Higgins from the Clemson Tigers. Both are very good fits to the “physical wide receiver” the Browns (or really any cold weather football team that plays on natural turf) would like to find. Pittman at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds and 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds for Higgins could tempt the Browns. Either one would look great in brown and orange.
It looks like for whatever reason several highly regarded prospects have slid into the second round. It means there may be some first round talents who are going to be available in the second round.