The 2020 Nfl Draft has come and gone. The Cleveland Browns both stuck to their board for value and reached for their guys. In this post, I will break down the best and worst picks from the 2020 Cleveland Browns draft class.
Best Pick – Grant Delpit, S LSU
There are so many layers to the Grant Delpit pick to pull back. First off, Delpit is a good football player. In fact, before the 2020 college football season started, Delpit was considered a top-5 prospect.
Moving on, Delpit fills a major need for the Cleveland Browns based on their current roster. Delpit can play single high, in the box, and cover in the slot as needed. Browns’ defensive coordinator, Joe Woods, can mold Delpit into his own Jimmie Ward. Moving beyond the draft pick, the Browns were able to move down from their original pick at 41, move back three spots, and acquire additional draft capital.
Finally, they made a calculated move by trading down. The board was falling in their favor and even if their top choice, Delpit, went off the board, Cleveland would still have several other viable and similar safety options to pick from.
Worst Pick – Jacob Phillips, LB LSU
My head was spinning when this pick was made. Yes, there is a need at the position. As it stands today, the Browns’ biggest weakness is at the linebacker position and it also may be one of the worst position groups in the NFL. Each player in the room does specific things well, but none of them do a lot of things well.
In Phillips, the Browns have a player who does not miss tackles and can attach downhill well. He isn’t a bad player at all.
My problem with the pick is value and what he brings to the linebacker room. He is another guy who will be a specialist for this team. He doesn’t have the fluid hips to cover and he doesn’t have the athletic profile to be a strong sideline to sideline contributor.
My hope is that Phillips’ discipline and sure tackling can help him develop into more than just a specialist.