Struggles to expect for the Cleveland Browns rookie class in 2021

Linebacker – Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

One of the biggest shocks of the draft was when Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (JOK) was available at pick no. 52. Honestly, I would have been perfectly happy if they took him in the first round at No. 26, so this worked out perfectly.

JOK is a freak athlete who has proven he has the toughness to play linebacker but has the coverage skills of a safety. His biggest challenge as a rookie will be learning his new position and getting used to playing in the middle of the defense.

At Notre Dame, he was able to play more of a rover-type role, where he will strictly be a linebacker in Cleveland. He will need to use his speed and strength to transition stopping the interior run game, but also remember his days as a safety in coverage.

Caught between linebacker and safety didn’t transition well for Isaiah Simmons who was highly sought-after last year, but let’s hope the Browns took notes and will do a better job of managing JOK.

Cornerback – Greg Newsome II

There were four great corners in this draft, and the Browns were able to land one of those guys at pick No. 26 in Greg Newsome II from the University of Northwestern.

While Newsome thrives in press coverage, his toughest transition will be the physicality of his game for a couple of reasons. One, he was penalized a lot in college for pass interference. NFL officials will often throw the flag for less, and it could become a real issue. With Denzel Ward across from him, he will be heavily targeted no matter how good he is.

Two, he must stay healthy. Newsome only started 18 games at Northwestern because of injuries, and his physical play could lead to more injuries.

The Browns have enough of that with Ward and Greedy Williams, we need a guy you can count on to play 16 games each year.