3 late-round Cleveland Browns picks from 2020 that could impact in 2021
By Sam Penix
Three Day 3 players from 2020 that could contribute for the Cleveland Browns in 2021
A hallmark of a good NFL team is having late-round picks turn into impactful players after their rookie seasons. Aside from Rashard Higgins in 2016, the Cleveland Browns have not been good at this over the past two decades.
Andrew Berry’s inaugural draft class has the chance to change those fortunes, but since the team had only two picks after the fourth round (and one of them is backup center Nick Harris, who plays behind the Iron Man himself, JC Tretter), we’re going to bend the rules a bit and consider undrafted free agents in that group. It isn’t an entirely unfair inclusion either.
With that said, here are three second-year players who could be counted on this season.
3. OT Alex Taylor
It was a surprise to see Alex Taylor go undrafted considering how big and athletic he is. He’s just about as perfect a scheme fit for the Kevin Stefanski outside zone as you can ask for, and offensive line coach Bill Callahan is surely glad to have a project with so much potential. Taylor is a raw piece of clay waiting to be molded, but his talent is undeniable.
The decision to draft James Hudson in the fourth round could indicate that the team isn’t overly confident in Taylor’s outlook. Or, it could mean they correctly value depth on the OL and are thinking long-term. In 2020, starting tackles Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin missed time, as did backup-at-four-spots Chris Hubbard, which thrust third-stringer Kendall Lamm, and even fourth-stringer Blake Hance into the starting lineup in key situations.
Having quality, versatile depth on any line is incredibly important, but even more so for the Browns because of the injury history of some of their starters. Taylor faces some stiff competition to make the final 53-man roster, but he has a better chance than many others. One does not simply move on from a player as talented as he.