The Cleveland Browns had their top two draft picks do very well as rookies. It wasn’t enough to carry the team to the playoffs but few rookies are able to do that on their own. Instead, despite small contributions from just two other draft picks, the Browns 2021 NFL draft haul was ranked quite high at the end of the season.
The team, and their fans, are hoping this offseason leads them back to the playoffs. Our mock offseason attempted to do just that.
Greg Newsome II did a very good job across from Denzel Ward, showing scheme versatility, good coverage and a willingness to get physical both in coverage and in the run game. Selected 26th overall, Newsome was a great pick for Cleveland.
Perhaps a bigger steal was trading up to select Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. The Notre Dame product slid in the draft due to concerns about a heart issue and about his size. As a rookie, he showed great speed, awareness and hitting power for the Browns.
ESPN (subscriber, $) just did a redraft of the 2021 draft and both of those players were selected much higher than their original positions. First, Newsome was off the board with the 13th pick:
With Slater off the board, the Chargers address a need in the secondary with Newsome, who showed his potential for the Browns in 12 games last season. He allowed just one touchdown as the nearest defender in coverage, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. By Pro Football Focus’ grading, Newsome had the highest coverage grade of all rookie corners when lined up outside. — Shelley Smith
Then they had Owusu-Koramoah going 19th overall:
There’s a lot to like about Davis: He has speed, size and length. If he develops, he could be a big help. But Washington drafted him as a possible middle linebacker, and that’s no longer how it sees him. Koramoah was among the Commanders’ final choices anyway, and he provides what they love: position flexibility. He could play linebacker in the team’s base defense and big nickel in sub packages. He showed instincts and made big stops this past season. The key for him will be staying healthy, but if he does, his speed and versatility are big plusses. — John Keim
In their place, ESPN had Cleveland selecting Odafe Oweh, the pass rusher who went to Baltimore a few picks later originally, and DL Milton Williams, at pick 59 instead of trading up to 52.
It is a great sign for the Browns future that two of their draft picks would be drafted much higher after their rookie years. The next step for the two, along with the rest of the draft class, is to continue to develop while on their rookie contracts.