Tag: John Molchon

Browns host a slew of players for tryouts during 49ers week

The Browns have hosted 8 for tryouts.

As they do every week, the Cleveland Browns continue to keep the idea of churning their practice squad and bottom of their rosters by hosting players for a tryout. This is standard procedure for them, but did sign practice squad players a year ago from these tryouts, including Mike Brown who is now on the 53-man roster of the Tennessee Titans. This week, the headliners of this tryout were linebacker JoJo Domann and safety Tyree Gillespie as they continue to prepare for the San Francisco 49ers.

Practice squad players can only be elevated to the active roster three times before they are subject to waivers once again. The Browns tend to be proactive about finding new bodies for their practice squad when a player gets close to that total of elevations as the season goes on.

Here is the full list of all eight players the Browns brought in to showcase their skills.

Bucs promote WR Cole Beasley to active roster for Sunday’s game vs. Packers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have new wide receiver Cole Beasley dressed and ready for Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers

The Tampa Buccaneers have promoted wide receiver Cole Beasley and offensive lineman John Molchon from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

Beasley was signed to the practice squad earlier this week, as they continue to deal with multiple injuries at wide receiver, as well as the one-game suspension for Mike Evans that will keep him out of Sunday’s game.

The former Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys pass-catcher hasn’t had much practice time with his new team, but the Bucs might have to rely on his previous experience elsewhere in the league to make him effective Sunday, should they have to call on him.

Molchon gives the Bucs some added depth along the offensive line, should they lose another blocker to injury.

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Browns 2020 NFL draft: An offensive guard for every round

Browns 2020 NFL draft: An offensive guard for every round

The Browns are set at left guard with Joel Bitonio, but the right guard position is a huge question mark. Wyatt Teller would be the starter if the season began today. It could be worse, but Teller’s uneven play leaves the door open for improvement.

Drew Forbes enters his second season still making the position change from tackle, a process hindered by spending half his rookie season on IR. Eric Kush is gone and nobody else should be seen as a potential long-term starter.

That leads to the draft. Expect the Browns to tab an interior offensive lineman at some point. Aside from needing a stable long-term solution at right guard, the cupboard behind veteran center JC Tretter is bare. Finding a guard who can also play center, or vice versa makes sense in the later rounds if they elect to roll with the Teller/Forbes combo fighting for the starting spot in 2020.

Here is a guard prospect for each round for the Browns in the 2020 NFL Draft.

1st round: Cesar Ruiz, Michigan

Ruiz isn’t worthy of the 10th overall pick, where the Browns currently sit. But with a trade back, or a move up from the second round into the bottom of the first, Ruiz makes sense.

He primarily played center for Michigan but does have the strength and temperament to move back to guard. Ruiz is one of those blockers that does everything pretty well, nothing extraordinary. His ability to engage and stick with targets in space would be a nice upgrade to help Nick Chubb get more yards more often.

With Tretter approaching 30 and with a team-friendly contract long-term, Ruiz could start at right guard for a year or two and then slide over as Tretter’s replacement in the middle.

2nd round: Lloyd Cushenberry, LSU

Another collegiate center, Cushenberry offers a stronger base inside than Ruiz — or just about anyone. He can engage with either hand and then sink his hips and explode through his shoulders extremely well.

Cushenberry plays in a more limited space than the Browns might prefer at guard in the anticipated zone scheme. He’s not quick laterally, but the whipsmart Cushenberry understands the geometry of engagement and how to move in coordination with the linemen around him quite adeptly. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan would love him. So would Baker Mayfield when Cushenberry stonewalls all the bull-rushers with his rock-solid form and base strength.

3rd round: Jonah Jackson, Ohio State

Jackson proved his NFL value in his one season with the Buckeyes after transferring from Rutgers. He’s smart, versatile and at best in pass protection while picking up second-level rushers and EDGEs coming inside.

His movement skills are inconsistent on game tape, but the base athleticism works for what the Browns will ask of Jackson at right guard. He’s not a people-mover and can sometimes play too carefully.

4th round: Nick Harris, Washington

Harris stands out on tape for his ability to get out to the second level and seal a crease. He played both center and guard for the Huskies, and his athletic range and movement skills are exactly what the Browns project to desire. Harris is undersized and underpowered, and he’ll need to sustain his pass blocks more consistently.

5th round: Logan Sternberg, Kentucky

Smart, tough, functionally capable blocker who wins (and loses) with his initial punch and first step thereafter. When Sternberg hits and drives behind the punch, he’s an NFL starter. When he’s high or late or leans too far, Sternberg’s not ever getting off the practice squad. His stronger, more consistent senior season gives hope for higher development potential.

6th round: John Molchon, Boise State

Crafty and quick but short-armed, and it causes him to lose leverage too often in pass protection. Molchon moved inside from tackle and still has his pass protection footwork. At his best when he’s the aggressor and in wider splits where the surrounding noise doesn’t impact him.

7th round: Kyle Murphy, Rhode Island

If the Browns are interested in a developmental guard who probably won’t make the 53-man roster as a rookie, Murphy would be a good choice. The tools are there in terms of movement, frame and attitude, but he needs more core strength and more consistent technique with his hands and feet before he’s ready for the NFL.

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Giants select Mekhi Becton, stock up in Draft Wire’s 7-round mock

In Draft Wire’s most recent seven-round mock draft, the New York Giants select OT Mekhi Becton and stock up at positions of need.

Now that the NFL has announced the compensatory draft picks for the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft, we can take mock drafts a little more seriously.

Luke Easterling of USA Today’s Draft Wire released his full seven-round mock draft on Wednesday. Here’s how he sees the New York Giants making out.

Round 1, Pick 4: Mekhi Becton, offensive tackle, Louisville

Taking Becton over Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons and Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs is going to disappoint many Giant fans. So is not trading back at No. 4 and still getting one of the three. But Becton is a monster of a prospect and should be a Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle n this league. It’s not the sexiest pick, but with a young quarterback and an offensive line that is in dire need of upgrades, I’ll take this pick all day long.

Round 2, Pick 36: Terrell Lewis, EDGE, Alabama

The Giants need to address the pass rush and their defensive end roles. Lewis is 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds and is seen as an ascending prospect who hopefully has put his injury woes behind him. He did not run the 40 at the Combine, so his pro day will tell more of the tale of where he is physically.

Round 3, Pick 99: Troy Pride Jr., cornerback,  Notre Dame

Highly productive college player with polish and should be able to walk right into the Giants’ secondary and secure a role. The Giants are young and inexperienced at corner and need some steady hands at the position.

Round 4, Pick 110: Brandon Jones, safety, Texas

Average skills and size but played aggressively. The Giants need more depth at safety with Jabrill Peppers coming off injury and Antoine Bethea turning 36 in July, a young safety is needed.

Round 5, Pick 150: Michael Divinity Jr., linebacker, LSU

Ran a 4.85 40 at the Combine and doesn’t appear to be more than backup material at first glance. Would’ve gone with another player here.

Round 6, Pick 183: Quartney Davis, wide receiver, Texas A&M

Probably coming out a year too early but that’s the nature of the games these days. Davis is fast (4.54 40) and productive and could be a sleeper the way Darius Slayton was last year.

Round 7, Pick 218: John Molchon, offensive lineman, Boise State

Pegged as in interior guy with decent size (6’5″, 310) but has short arms for his size. It may not matter if he can hold his own in the NFL. He was all-conference two years running in spite of that.

Round 7, Pick 238 (from NO): Rodney Smith, running back, Minnesota

A fifth-year senior, Smith was second-team All-Big 10 last year and was the 2016 Holiday Bowl MVP. The Giants are concerned with Saquon Barkley’s durability after last year’s ankle injury and are in the market for running backs.

Round 7, Pick 247: Harrison Hand, cornerback, Temple

Athletic Jersey kid who is worth taking a flier on. They need both depth in the secondary and on special teams and Hand might fit both roles.

Round 7, Pick 255: Trevis Gipson, defensive line, Tulsa

Still a developing talent, Gipson exploded last year at Tulsa with 15 tackles for loss and eight sacks with two forced fumbles in 11 starts. Doubtful he’s here to be taken with the Mr. Irrelevant pick.

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