Re-grading the Cleveland Browns 2018 NFL Draft

Round 4, Pick 105: Antonio Callaway, WR, Florida

Cleveland made another trade as they gave the New England Patriots their fourth-round pick (No. 114) and a sixth-rounder (No. 178) to move up nine spots. Once there, they took Antonio Callaway from Florida.

From the beginning, this had the feel of a pick that would go wrong. Despite still going through their drama with Josh Gordon constantly being suspended, the Browns took a gamble on Callaway who failed a drug test at the combine and was part of many other problems at Florida which led to him being suspended for all of 2017.

As expected, Callaway was nothing but trouble for Cleveland despite having immense potential. As a rookie, he had 586 yards and five touchdowns but he also was in trouble in the offseason when marijuana was found in his car.

For some reason, people bought his “it wasn’t mine” routine and Hue Jackson fell for the worst fake apology ever. Callaway naturally learned nothing as he was still enabled and then in 2019, he showed up out of shape and was suspended for four games (insert shocked face) failing a drug test.

When he was allowed to come back, he again found himself suspended (insert an even more shocked face). Callaway was cut and is still trying to catch on with an NFL team. This pick was really bad and what was worse was the fact that they traded up for a player who proved over and over that he doesn’t care.

Grade: F

Round 5, Pick 150: Genard Avery, LB, Memphis

This pick ended up being frustrating because the Cleveland Browns gave up on Genard Avery despite him showing potential. As a rookie, he had 40 tackles and 4.5 sacks. But then in his second season, Avery was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for a fourth-round pick.

Netting a fourth-round pick for someone taken in the fifth is a decent move and Avery has struggled some in Philly. But his rookie season and the return make this pick acceptable.

Grade: C+