NFL: Draft: The 2021 Cleveland Browns Draft Class
Round 1, Pick 26: Gregory Newsome II CB, Northwestern
With their first pick in the NFL Draft in 2021, the Cleveland Browns selected Greg Newsome II, a cornerback out of Northwestern. Cleveland does not have any gaping holes, so going with the best player on their board available was the correct thing to do and will add depth to a secondary that looks to be getting stronger by the day. Newsome is at his best covering the deep ball and fits well in a zone scheme, something the Browns have been known for under DC Joe Woods. Newsome is also a solid tackler in the run game, making him a player that will be on the field on third down. Newsome will join Denzel Ward, Greedy Wiliams, and Troy Hill in a CB room that will look to give time for DE Myles Garrett to get to the quarterback.
Round 2, Pick 52: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah LB, Notre Dame
While often regarded by many as a possible first-round pick, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah somehow fell into the second round and the Browns capitalized. Cleveland used one of their two third-round picks along with swapping from the 59th pick with the Carolina Panthers to move up seven spots and take the linebacker with their second-round pick. According to sources, Koramoah was a possibility for Cleveland at the 26th slot but still landed him in the second round. Coming out of Notre Dame, Koramoah showed versatility with speed and agility in coverage, along with a tremendous burst when pressuring the quarterback. This might end up being the best pick the Browns make from a value standpoint when the dust settles.
Round 3, Pick 91: Anthony Schwartz WR, Auburn
With their third selection of the 2021 draft, the Browns switched gears and addressed the receiver position, taking speedy receiver Anthony Schwartz out of Auburn. Schwartz expresses elite speed, running a 4.25 on his pro day. Despite this, Schwartz is a little undersized and is still developing as a route runner, but his speed will make him an option as a kick returner with an upside to pose as a deep threat in the future.
Round 4, Pick 110: James Hudson OT, Cincinnati
With a bit of a surprise in the fourth round, the Cleveland Browns took offensive tackle James Hudson with LB Jabril Cox still sitting undrafted to this point. Hudson, who will fight to replace OT Kendall Lamm on the roster, earned First Team All-AAC honors in 2020 for his play as a Bearcat. Hudson was known for his athletic ability and his brute strength but is a work in progress with his fundamentals. Hudson will most likely be a backup to start but has the potential to develop because of his raw ability.
Round 4, Pick 132: Tommy Togiai DT, Ohio State
With their second fourth-round pick, GM Andrew Berry and crew went back to the defensive side of the ball, drafting Tommy Togiai, a defensive tackle out of Ohio State. Togiai improved vastly in 2020 with his hand fundamentals and is known as a guy who never takes a play-off. Togiai is a bit undersized and inconsistent but will look to clean up the inconsistency with the help from veteran pass rushers already on the roster. Togiai will look to join the defensive line rotation in 2021 but will struggle to see the field if everyone stays healthy.
Round 5, Pick 153: Tony Fields II LB, West Virginia
With their first out of two fifth-round picks, the Browns took linebacker Tony Fields II out of West Virginia. After starting at Arizona, Fields had a nice career transferring to West Virginia, earning First Team All-Big 12 honors in his final season as a Mountaineer. Fields is a run-savvy linebacker that is known for his discipline and IQ in the run game. Despite this, Fields will need to work on his craft against the passing attack, something he has struggled with in the past. With the linebacking core deep, Fields will produce depth at a position of need for the Cleveland Browns.
Round 5, Pick 169: Richard LeCounte III S, Georgia
Moving to the secondary, Cleveland used their last fifth-round pick on S Richard Lecounte III. Lecounte plays big with a small body, delivering big hits and playing aggressively. According to his scouting report, he has a good understanding of the game and recognition of routes early, resulting in seven picks in 14 games. Like most fifth-round picks, Lecounte is a work in progress and will have to develop and grow into his body to earn playing time. His ball hawk mentality might get him time soon if he can turn that into taking the ball away.
Round 6, Pick 211: Demetric Felton WR, UCLA
For the second time in as many years, the Browns used their final pick on a wide receiver. Last year, it was Donovan People-Jones. This year, it is Demetric Felton, a wide receiver out of UCLA. Felton is known as a hybrid receiver who can be a running back and a wide receiver, like Deebo Samuel and Curtis Samuel. His athleticism will give him a role in the Browns offense immediately despite his lack of natural catching ability. This is the second receiver taken by the Browns in this draft with the first one being Anthony Schwartz. With the depth at the receiver, there is a chance Felton does not gain many snaps in 2021 but will see some special teams time because of his versatility.
Draft info from nfl.com
Stats from profootballreference.com
writer
-By: Richie Dodas