In preparation for the 2025 draft, where the Browns hold 10 selections, I went into the lab to identify which draft prospects best fit the Browns' positional prototypes established since Andrew Berry assumed his post as General Manager.
I gathered data on every acquisition Berry has made - whether through the draft, free agency, or trade - focusing on key athletic traits and NFL Combine results to build a Browns-specific prototype. Then, I compared each prospect's numbers to their positional prototype, normalizing the data and adjusting for missing values to produce ideal fits for each position based on the data.
This is the sixth installment of a ten-part series, identifying the best matches for the Browns, based on the data-trends identified since Andrew Berry became GM.
The Cleveland Browns have plenty of needs, and fans who were hopeful for a big free agency period were served a disappointing slice of Kenny-Pickett-Pie. It was to be expected however, as the Browns find themselves in one of the most precarious cap situations in all of the league.
This isn't your typical mess, this is a mess that takes a few years to clean up. Guaranteeing $240 million to Deshaun Watson was the equivalent of dousing your perfectly fine home in kerosene, and throwing a match inside to get it started. Now, you've watched it burn to the ground, and you have to strap on your hardhat, and get rebuilding.
The foundation of the Browns team is currently in flux, as an aftershock to the Watson-earthquake was a lack of first round picks for 3 years, in addition to 3 other mid-rounders. That's a lot of young, inexpensive talent to miss out on.
One group that appears to still have hope, is the cornerback room. Cornerback is an extremely significant position, and it's no joke that the Browns have a proven, legitimate star in Denzel Ward at the position. Behind him, is a little dicier, as Greg Newsome II and Martin Emerson have seen significant peaks and valleys in their respective careers.
Behind that troika, the Browns have Cameron Mitchell, Tony Brown (who re-signed with the team on March 20), Chigozie Anusiem, and Anthony Kendall. The lone departure from the 2024 team is Mike Ford who took his excellent special teams chops down to Atlanta.
It's reasonable to say the Browns should be focusing elsewhere, when Draft Day comes around. It's important, however, to note that a 3-14 team is not one that is devoid of holes. They need talent, at every spot, and this draft class is shaping up to be a great one from the CB position.
The following are the top 5 fits for the Browns who are available to be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft:
5. Nohl Williams - California
Nohl Williams is a long, rangy cornerback with excellent production at the collegiate level. He boasts a 98.1% similarity score to the Browns prototype at the position. At the Combine, Williams was measured at 6'0," 199lbs, which was certainly a welcome development for scouts. At this stage, he is considered a mid round prospect, with a lot of interest from NFL franchises.
Williams spent 5 years in the collegiate ranks, spending 3 seasons at UNLV, before joining Cal for his last two seasons. In his career, he rolled up 203 tackles, an eye-popping 14 interceptions, and 25 passes defensed. This is the kind of player who just a natural ability to pluck the ball out of the air. As with every prospect, scouts took issue with something, in his case: his penalties and tackling strength.
If you want to see him in action, check out his highlight tape here.
4. Mello Dotson - Kansas
The CB with the fourth highest similarity score (99.3%), is none other than Mello Dotson, of the Jayhawks. Dotson spent his entire 5 year career with Kansas, crafting a resume that has him likely to hear his name in the middle rounds come draft time. He is another long corner, coming in at 6'1" and 192lbs.
Read more: Denzel Ward's future extension keeps getting astronomical after latest CB payday
Dotson, like Nohl, had an extremely productive career, racking up 177 tackles, 12 interceptions (4 of which he returned to the house), and 25 pass deflections. The problems scouts see with Dotson's game are his play speed, as well as tackling questions. His combine performance was less-than-ideal, as he ran a 4.59 40-yard dash.
Nonetheless, his on-field results should make him a hot commodity among NFL franchises. You can see his highlight tape here.
T3. Quincy Riley - Louisville
Next up on the list, tied with the 3rd highest similarity score (99.4%), is Quincy Riley. He's a veteran CB, spending 6 years, split evenly with 3 years at Middle Tennessee State and the last 3 years as a member of the Cardinals. As with his contemporaries on this list so far, Riley has considerable collegiate production. At the Combine, Quincy was measured at 5'11," 194lbs.
Riley is currently projected to be a later round draft choice, and the reasons evidently have nothing to do with his statistics. In 6 years, he had 159 tackles, 15 interceptions, and 40 passes defensed. His combine performance was considered adequate in most categories, although scouts would like to see improvements, in his play strength and burst.
Despite any concerns, it is clear that Riley knows how to play the position. Watch him work in his highlight tape here.
T3. Jason Marshall Jr. - Florida
With an identical similarity score of 99.4%, is Jason Marshall Jr. of the Florida Gators. Marshall is another tall, long corner, standing 6 feet and weighing 194lbs. He spent his entire 4-year career as a Gator, learning the trade in the highest quality conference of college football, the SEC. Like Quincy Riley, he is projected to be a later round draft choice.
For the first time on this list, there is a CB with modest production in terms of interceptions. Marshall finished his time in Gainesville with 98 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 25 passes defended. Combine mavens rave about his explosiveness, evident in his jumping measurements (37.5' vertical, 10'5" broad jump). Scouts want to see him put it all together by improving his play recognition and his own ball skills.
You can watch Jason lock up on his highlight tape here.
1. Trey Amos - Mississippi
The CB with highest similarity score of any CBs in this year's draft class (99.7%), is another SEC product, this time, Trey Amos out of Ole Miss. In fact, Amos has the 4th highest similarity score of any prospect in the draft. He was well-traveled in his career, as he spent 3 years at Louisiana, before going to play for Nick Saban at Alabama. It didn't quite work out, so he took his talents to Oxford to play for a Saban-disciple in Lane Kiffin.
At the combine, Amos impressed scouts at 6'1" and 195lbs. As of current projections, it is expected that Amos will hear his name called in the early rounds. He only had 1 interception through 4 years before logging 3 in his final season with the Rebels. In total, he finished his career with 121 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 31 passes defensed.
Scouts love Amos, but they'd still like to see progression from his eye-discipline and tackling. You can see what has NFL teams raving about Amos in his highlight tape here.