Cleveland Browns: Top need prospects available in first three rounds

Cleveland Browns draft prospects: Cornerback

1st Round: Greg Newsome II

Greg Newsome II saw his draft stock skyrocket during the pre-draft process, and for good reason. He would be a great addition with the first-round pick. Newsome is one of the best ball-tracking defensive backs in the entire draft. He was almost always able to get his head around and find the ball to swat it away.

He was fantastic in the way that he moved while receivers were going through their routes. He has great fluidity with his hips. He can plant and pivot at extremely high speeds. He can also do all of this while maintaining great control over his movements.

Newsome’s adjustments were something to behold. It is already extremely difficult to shake Newsome due to the way he moves. On the rare occasions when a receiver can get a step on him, he makes it right back with his insane speed.

The Northwestern defensive back had one of the best pro days out of anyone in the entire draft. He ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash and also jumped a 40-inch vertical leap. Both of those numbers place him as one of the most athletic defensive backs in the draft.

Newsome also has the ability to also contribute in the run game as he made many tackles on the outside. He laid some pretty big hits too.

If the Browns took Greg Newsome II, Greedy Williams could take as much time as he needs to return to the field because Newsome can be more than a competent outside corner in his first season.

2nd Round: Ifeatu Melifonwu

Ifeatu Melifonwu would be a great choice with the Browns’ second-round pick.

Melifonwu is a physical specimen. He has an 80-inch wingspan and can jump out of the building. In his pro day, he jumped 42-inches in his vertical and 134-inches in his broad jump. He also ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash.

He made tackle after tackle in the open field. With his pterodactyl-like arms, he rarely missed.

Melifonwu was able to amass passes defended throughout last season. He excelled in batting passes away from the receiver before they even had a chance to get a hand on the ball.

In many ways, Melifonwu is still a raw prospect but with his build, he should transition nicely to an NFL defense, especially in Cleveland where he won’t be asked to do a lot in his first season.

3rd Round: Kelvin Joseph

Kelvin Joseph may have played his way into a higher selection than 89th overall in his pro day. If the Browns get the opportunity to select Joseph here it would be a steal.

Joseph was phenomenal at pushing and shielding opposing receivers towards the sideline. This is a tough ask in the SEC where you’re facing some of the most talented wide receivers every week.

On top of that, Joseph also moves pretty well on the field and adjusts well to the moves of the wide receiver. He was hard to beat which means more when you are asked to cover the athletes he was asked to cover.

Joseph showed out during his pro day proving he is an elite athlete. He ran a 4.34-second 40-yard dash which shows he has the elite speed to keep up with the fastest wide receivers the NFL has to offer.

He was able to put up nice numbers in 2020 where he had four interceptions in only nine games. Joseph consistently jumped routes that the quarterback never saw coming.

Kelvin Joseph is far from a finished product but with time in the NFL, he could be a big-time contributor for the Browns defense for years to come.