Re-grading the Cleveland Browns 2018 NFL Draft

Round 6, Pick 175: Damion Ratley, WR, Texas A&M

Once teams are making picks in the final couple of rounds, they’re looking for one thing — potential. In the sixth round, Cleveland was looking for that when they took Texas A&M wide receiver Damion Ratley.

What Ratley brought to the table was insane deep speed. A true burner, Ratley averaged 23.1 yards per catch during his final season with the Aggies. With Cleveland, he showed off that speed by averaging 16.7 yards per catch in his second season.

In all, he had 25 catches for 344 yards and a touchdown but was unable to make the team last year. He did land with the New York Giants but was waived in October. He finished the year with Houston but never recorded a stat. Entering this season, Ratley is a member of the Detroit Lions where he has a decent shot of making the team since they’re thin at wideout.

Overall, his production was solid for where he was drafted.

Grade: C

Round 6, Pick 188: Simeon Thomas, CB, Louisiana

Cleveland’s final pick in the 2018 NFL Draft was used to acquire Louisiana cornerback Simeon Thomas. Impressive in stature, Thomas stood 6-foot-3 and 197-pounds.

Dorsey was clearly looking for a player who could be groomed and was enamored with his size. Unfortunately, Thomas didn’t make the final roster as he was waived in September.

Cleveland wasn’t able to add him to the practice squad either as the Seattle Seahawks claimed him. He never played in a regular-season game for them and then went to Washington in 2019.

That year, Thomas played in 12 games and had eight tackles. He was waived the following year with an injury settlement after serving a suspension that cost him the end of the 2019 campaign as well as Week 1 of 2020.

Overall, Thomas never made good on his promise but this wasn’t the worst pick for how late he was added.

Grade: D