2021 NFL Draft: 5 players the Cleveland Browns could draft at No. 26
By Josh Brown
3. Carlos Basham, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Basham is 6-3 and 281-pounds, making him a perfect size and fit on an even front. The 23-year-old lineman spent all four years with the Demon Deacons and put up 35.5 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks, mostly over the last three years there. He also was a big-play machine during his time, with seven forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown. Basham brings three years of great production to the NFL level.
The questions start with if he is already close to his ceiling as a player or if he still has room to improve. The whole high floor thing that people tend to throw around is exactly what most analysts are using for Basham. He uses more power, effort than pure athleticism to make plays.
As the tackles get bigger, his play seems to drop off, and the NFL tackles are all big and strong. He does provide great versatility as his size and ability could be used in passing situations, creating havoc inside. In the end, the talent falls a bit short of the production.
Obviously, getting into an NFL weight program could help, but the talent seems more on the level of a mid to late second-day pick or even an early third-day pick. In this case, the number of splash plays he made in college and the want for talented edge rushers in the NFL may lift his stock a bit but using even a late first may be a bit much. The Browns front office would be better served to look elsewhere initially and come back later if the former Demon Deacon is still on the board.