6 players Cleveland Browns should scout at East-West Shrine Bowl
By John Suchan
Cleveland Browns Player to watch No. 4: Jack Sanborn, LB, Wisconsin
Jack Sanborn, the Big Ten linebacker from Wisconsin, stands in at 6-2 and weighs 236 lbs. He’s fast with great instincts for the ball. He can play all the linebacker positions inside or outside and be an every-down player. He’s projected by some draft boards as being the 17th or 18th best linebacker in the bunch. He registered five sacks on the quarterback and 77 tackles overall in his senior year in Madison.
The Browns have some good players currently at linebacker including their second-round draft pick from a year ago in Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Adding a player like Sanborn who’s looked to be drafted in the middle rounds, would be another solid addition to a young group that is trying to get better.
Cleveland Browns Player to watch No. 5: Derrick Deese Jr., TE, San Jose St.
Amongst tight ends, Derrick Deese is ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the NFL draft. He stands at 6-4 and has good speed. He’s described as having soft hands and being able to catch passes thrown his way. He’s very athletic and many project him being drafted between the third and fifth rounds of the draft.
He finished his season catching 47 passes for 730 yards and four touchdowns. He was also considered a good blocker on the edges in college. Some projections look to him to become more of a slot receiver in the NFL.
The Browns have two tight ends now, including Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant that are set to return next year. Hooper’s contract is expensive at $9.5 million, but he’s not a free agent until 2023. The team’s third tight-end David Njoku is a free agent now and may not return. The Browns would be advised to watch Deese this week in practices and certainly the game on Thursday night.