Cleveland Browns draft: The 2017 picks we wish would have worked out better
By Randy Gurzi
1. Larry Ogunjobi, Defensive Tackle
Another player the Browns took a chance on was defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi. He clearly showed he had more than enough talent to make it in the NFL, but there was a concern since he played for Charlotte, which had yet to produce any NFL draft picks.
When Cleveland ended up calling his name in the third round, it made history for the collegiate franchise and he will forever be known as their first draft pick. For fans of the Browns, it was also exciting because Ogunjobi was an incredible athlete who was raw but had proven himself against some of the best in the nation during his work in the Senior Bowl ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Once in Cleveland, he showed flashes of his talent right away. He finished his rookie season with 32 tackles and one sack in a rotational role but became a starter in year two. That proved to be his best season with the Browns, recording 52 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He had another 50 tackles and 5.5 sacks on 2019 but his effectiveness had taking a dip.
The primary reason for this was him moving to a one-technique role with the arrival of Sheldon Richardson. He remained in that spot in 2020 and had 46 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He then signed with the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason as Cleveland didn’t seem interested at all in bringing him back on a second contract.
Next. 2016 draft picks we wished would have worked. dark
Ogunjobi was never a bad player and in the end, he gave the Browns a lot for a third round pick. Still, with the talent he flashed as a second-year player, it was apparent he could have done more and that makes him a draft pick we wish could have worked out better.