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Should the Cleveland Browns consider drafting injured players?

By Elliot Kennel

Oct 5, 2019; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver K.J. Osborn (2) is unable to make a catch as Virginia Tech Hokies defensive back Caleb Farley (3) defends the play during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 5, 2019; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver K.J. Osborn (2) is unable to make a catch as Virginia Tech Hokies defensive back Caleb Farley (3) defends the play during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Browns
FAYETTEVILLE, AR – DECEMBER 12: Landon Dickerson #69 of the Alabama Crimson Tide blocks during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on December 12, 2020 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Crimson Tide defeated the Razorbacks 52-3. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

2021 Draftees currently banged up

Landon Dickerson is a 6-foot-6, 324-pound grizzly bear from Alabama who can talk, stand on his hind legs, and obey simple commands. Coach Nick Saban was able to convince officials that his bear is human.

He suffered an ACL injury in December and had an ACL on the other knee earlier in his career.  Neither injury appears to be career-threatening. If the medical reports are positive, and you thought he was a first-round talent before, he is still a first-round talent. Draft him in the first round. Start him as soon as he is ready to go all-out.

Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse, also suffered an ACL tear and was considered to be a first-round draft pick prior to the injury. He didn’t run the 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, leading to press buzz that his surgery has not been fully successful. What nonsense. If he starts playing by December, that is plenty soon enough. He can also be drafted late first round.

Dayo Odeyingbo, EDGE, Vanderbilt, graded out as a Round 2 defensive end, before he tore an Achilles tendon. That’s not good. That might knock him down to day three, where you start drafting high-risk players.

Miami edge rusher Jaelan Phillips has a concussion history. That’s a very complex issue that would be very difficult for a dumb sportswriter to offer a prognostication. He also had other injuries at UCLA, including getting hit by a car while riding a moped, before transferring to Miami for the 2020 season.

Were it not for the medical concerns, Phillips would probably be a top-10 pick. Based on his 40-yard dash time of 4.56 seconds, which is incredible for a fellow who is 6-foot-5 and 266 pounds, that is very possible. However, currently, the mocks are calling for him to be selected in the middle of the first round.  The Browns have plenty of edge rushers all of a sudden, and may not need Phillips.

Caleb Farley is a defensive back, represented by Drew Rosenhaus. Although regarded as a first-round pick, his stock has been falling after minor spinal surgery. Adam Schefter of ESPN says that Rosenhaus was assured by team doctors and trainers that Farley is doing fine. Schefter is highly reliable, but how about the player’s agent?

Well, that’s nice, but what do you expect from the player’s agent? But a similarly optimistic view is presented by the British Journal of Sports Medicine as well as the sports medicine journal Spine, reports that over 80% of elite athletes are able to return to play after having the surgery.

Hence Rosenhaus was probably telling the truth, and Farley is a low-risk selection. If the Browns believe in him, they should still draft him.

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