The Cleveland Browns are going to be looking for help on the interior of the defensive line. Even after adding former Cincinnati Bengal, Andrew Billings, they are still a tad bit too thin up front. Unfortunately for Cleveland, this is not the strongest interior D-line class, but there is still talent to be had.
Just a reminder that I grade like I make love: generously
Most writers only rank 20-25 first-round grades and that is probably more indicative of their talent rather than where they are selected. I rank prospects based on the highest I could possibly see them be snagged.
1st Round
1. Derrick Brown, Auburn, 6-5. 326 pounds
Brown can absolutely muddy a pocket with the best of them and is versatile enough to contribute across the entire defensive line. He is also used to handling double teams and has no problem holding up. Brown’s biggest weakness is that even though he disrupts the pocket, he is not the smoothest pass rusher and is better at creating lanes for others.
2. Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina, 6-5, 324 pounds
Kinlaw has an insanely high ceiling and will make plays that will make you swoon. He has an absurd mixture of pure strength and agility, that make him a devastating force. With all that said, he is not number one because he has a really low floor. Kinlaw too often gets lost and plays too chaotic.
3. Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma, 6-2, 304 pounds
Gallimore will immediately elevate a team’s pass rush and he has the ideal build to play on the interior with the quickness to burst through openings. The issue with Gallimore is that he needs to improve his effectiveness against the run as he struggles to shed blocks once they get a hold of him.
4. Ross Blacklock, TCU, 6-3, 290 pounds
Blacklock isn’t just explosive off the line of scrimmage, but he’s also fast when forced to chase. He also has a few pass rushing moves that make him even more dangerous against the pass. He has shown flashes of being a potentially elite pass rusher, but it’s just not all there yet.
5. Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M, 6-3, 293 pounds
Madubuike has insane potential and was a former highly-rated recruit for a reason. After he was redshirted had a very productive career. He has the ideal frame you want on an interior defender, but needs to add weight. Madubuike has a few games where he really shines including against Clemson in 2018 when he was able to gather a sack.
2nd Round
6. Leki Fotu, Utah, 6-5, 330 pounds
Fotu does not get enough credit for how integral he was for the Ute defense. Unfortunately, stats won’t show it. It shouldn’t surprise you that a man who weighs well over 300 pounds is insanely strong, but he also has impressively quick feet. Fotu was not given a higher grade due to his lack of effectiveness against the pass.
7. Raekwon Davis, Alabama, 6-6. 311 pounds
Davis, like Fotu, is also insanely strong and has a non-stop motor to go with his elite strength. Davis can really flourish in the right system and projects best as a 5-tech in a 3-4 scheme. The issue with Davis is that he does not have the most explosive burst off the snap.
8. Davon Hamilton, Ohio St., 6-4, 320 pounds
Hamilton has not reached his potential yet and is looking to build off of his productive red-shirt senior season in which he earned 28 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. Few prospects in this class have improved their all-around game from 2018 to 2019 like Hamilton. It should raise a few red flags that he failed to see the field for meaningful minutes until his fifth year on campus. A common comparison to Hamilton is current Miami Dolphin Davon Godchaux and there is a lot of truth to that. Hamilton has a much higher ceiling.
9. Jordan Elliott, Missouri, 6-4, 302 pounds
Elliott has the ideal body type to play in the NFL with a solid overall build to go with the initial explosiveness to hit gaps effectively. His quick feet should also help make him effective on stunts. Elliott is not ranked higher, because he may not be ready to compete. He shows flashes, but needs to be more consistent and this may require a red-shirt season.
3rd Round
10. James Lynch, Baylor, 6-4, 289 pounds
Lynch comes into the NFL after a decorated college career that includes being named All-Big 12 first team the last two seasons. He also led the Big-12 with 12.5 sacks. Lynch has been so successful, because he knows his job and does his job well. You will rarely find him making mistakes or getting lost. Lynch however is ranked this low due to his less than ideal frame.
11. McTelvin Agim, Arkansas, 6-3, 309 pounds
Agim has some intriguing upside considering he just made the move to defensive tackle in the middle of the 2018 season after playing end. Agim added weight for the 2019 season and it clearly elevated his play as he recorded 10 tackles for loss. Agim may not be ready to play immediately as he is still learning the position.
12. Larrell Murchison, NC St., 6-2, 297 pounds
Murchison is a high-effort player that doesn’t quit until the whistle blows. He can be effective when asked to hit the gap from the 3-tech, but he was consistently played in the wrong position in NC State’s 3-3-5 defense. The fact that he was playing out of position indicates that he likely has a ton of potential remaining, but the flip-side is that there is no definitive answer to what his best position is.
13. Raequan Williams, Michigan St., 6-4, 308 pounds
Williams knows how to utilize his strong hands and has an explosive burst off the snap. His ideal fit is likely at nose, because of his excellent play against the run. Williams is not ranked higher because he lacks the ideal speed NFL teams want on their interior and he provides very little as a pass rusher.
14. Darrion Daniels, Nebraska, 6-3, 311 pounds
Daniels is a grad-transfer from Oklahoma State, where he started every game during his first two seasons and accumulated 31 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a half of sack. He was productive with Nebraska as well as collecting 34 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He has excellent size for the interior. Daniels didn’t play much during his last two seasons at Oklahoma State and that was due to two separate injuries that warrant deeper investigation. Daniels is also not the most effective pass rusher.
15. Rashard Lawrence, LSU, 6-2, 308 pounds
Lawrence is another active gap penetration specialist and his explosiveness off the snap should help provide him a role at the next level. Lawrence is not the best athlete, especially in regard to changing direction, which will not help when tasked with stunting.
4th Round
16. Benito Jones, Ole Miss, 6-1, 316 pounds: Handles double-teams well but lacks ideal strength.
17. Robert Windsor, Penn St., 6-4, 290 pounds: Had productive season with 40 tackles and moves in traffic well, but gets lost in run game. Had a great game against Iowa, when he tallied six tackles.
18. Jason Stowbridge, North Carolina, 6-4, 275 pounds: Intriguing upside as was an end before adding weight. May require red-shirt season.
19. Josiah Coatney, Ole Miss, 6-3, 308 pounds: Impressive motor, but pad level is too high too often.
5th Round
20. Benning Potoa’e, Washington, 6-3, 290 pounds: Versatile defender who just moved to the defensive line this season. Extremely raw and may need a red-shirt season.
21. Tyler Clark, Georgia, 6-4, 300 pounds: Ideal for clearing lane for others, but not a gap shooter.
22. Robert Landers, Ohio St., 6-1, 285 pounds: Good size, but struggles against larger defenders.
23. Auzoyah Alufohai, West Georgia, 6-4, 313 pounds: The definition of a sleeper, Alufohai has an insane ceiling and could be a major steal, but played against lower competition and is very raw.
24. Carlos Davis, Nebraska, 6-2, 313 pounds: Productive career with 125 tackles, but lacks the ideal length.
6th Round
25. John Penisini, Utah, 6-1, 318 pounds: Former junior college standout was named All-PAC-12 last two seasons. May never develop beyond reserve nose.
26. Broderick Washington, Texas Tech, 6-2, 305 pounds: Consistent three-year starter, but lacks ideal size.
27. Garrett Marino, UAB, 6-0, 288 pounds: Explosive pro-day, where he ran a 4.89 forty and completed 41 reps on the bench. Did not split double teams consistently.
28. Khalil Davis, Nebraska, 6-1, 308 pounds: Technical prospect, who improved a lot each season, but failed to start until Senior season and lacks an ideal frame.
7th Round
29. Bravvion Roy, Baylor, 6-1, 332 pounds
30. Chris Williams, Wagner, 6-2, 302 pounds
31. Malcolm Roach, Texas, 6-2, 297 pounds
32. Trevon McSwain, Duke, 6-5, 292 pounds
33. Breiden Fehoko, LSU, 6-3, 275 pounds
Priority Free Agent
34. LaCale London, Western Illinois, 6-3, 297 pounds
35. Teair Tart, Florida International, 6-3 290 pounds
36. Lee Autry, Mississippi St., 6-2, 305 pounds
37. Brendon Hayes, UCF, 6-1, 293 pounds
38. Doug Costin, Miami (Ohio), 6-2, 291 pounds
39. Ray Lima, Iowa St., 6-3, 305 pounds
40. David Moa, Boise St., 6-3, 293 pounds
’41. Mike Panasiuk, Michigan St., 6-3, 300 pounds
42. Eli Hanback, Virginia, 6-3, 300 pounds
43. Luc Bequette, California, 6-2, 290 pounds
44. Jashon Cornell, Ohio St., 6-3, 285 pounds