Grading the 2017 Browns Draft
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This is a fun exercise I've done in the past (but I'm not sure I've done it on this board yet)… It's been said by many (and possibly originally by Ozzie Newsome?) that you cannot grade a draft class until they've completed their third season, so lo and behold, it's time to review the 2017 Browns draft class. This was the second - and last - draft class lead by GM Sashi Brown, who would be fired towards the end of the regular season and replaced by John Dorsey.
1st (#1 overall) DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M: The consensus top pick of the draft, Garrett has been the disruptive DE the Browns hoped for when they drafted him, with 30.5 sacks in 37 games played. Perhaps not "elite", but I doubt the Browns regret the pick. His whack-a-mole game is on point.
1st (#25 overall) S Jabrill Peppers, TTUN: A playmaking "jack of all trades" in college, he's been generally a solid, but unspectacular starter in the NFL. Had a quiet rookie season due to Gregg Williams playing him in a different area code most times, he moved to strong safety in 2018 and played well. Traded to the NY Giants prior to the 2019 season as part of the Zeitler/OBJ/Vernon blockbuster.
1st (#29 overall) TE David Njoku, Miami: A divisive player among Browns fans. Some see a very young, still learning TE with great upside, others see an "athlete" who is a mediocre football player with unreliable hands. 93 receptions for 1066 yards and 9 career touchdowns. Missed most of 2019 with broken wrist, fell into Freddie Kitchens doghouse apparently for reasons somewhat unknown. (Been speculated that Kitchens had enough with his dropped passes)
2nd (#52 overall) QB DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame: A baffling pick in so many ways. If there was ever a pick that you could see being a disaster waiting to happen, it was DeShone Kizer to a young team tanking with the collection of stiffs already on the roster at QB. At least, on paper, I can understand why a front office running on analytics would use a 3rd rounder the draft before on Cody Kessler (ton of starts in college, high completion percentage). For a QB who had no business entering the NFL early, Kizer could not have ended up in a worse situation. Forced to start YEARS too soon, he floundered on a roster with little talent around him. Traded after the season to Green Bay, who eventually released him after the season ended. Signed with Oakland. 3081 passing yards, 11 touchdowns to 24 interceptions, 53.1 completion percentage, 58.9 QB rating.
3rd (#65 overall) DT Larry Ogunjobi, Charlotte: Guy who flew under the radar during his college career, but had a good Senior Bowl experience that helped him shoot up draft boards. Like Peppers, has been a solid if unspectacular starter for Browns, with 12 career sacks. I'd be curious to how he seems to rate against the run, it seems like he's regressed of late.
4th (#126 overall) CB Howard Wilson, Florida State: Suffered a fractured patella (kneecap) his second day of rookie minicamps, causing him to miss entire rookie season, only to have to have more surgery the following year on knee that caused him to miss entire sophomore campaign. Waived before training camp prior to 2019 season.
5th (#160 overall) DT Caleb Brantley, Florida: Player whose draft stock dropped like a brick due to assault charges, Brantley was considered a higher ranked DT than Ogunjobi prior. Made no impact with Browns, released after rookie season and is currently with Washington. Has played very limited reps.
6th (#185 overall) K Zane Gonzalez, Arizona State: Lou Groza Winner for best college kicker in 2016, Gonzalez had a decent rookie season for the Browns before kicking so poorly at the beginning of the 2017 season (costing the Browns multiple wins) that he was released. Seemingly has rebounded back in Arizona with the Cardinals. 55 for 69 FG attempts (79.7%) with a long of 55.
7th (#252 overall) RB Matthew Dayes, NC State: Made the Browns roster out of training camp his rookie season, used sparingly, then cut.
Overall: This is a interesting draft class to grade. Garrett has been what the Browns hoped for 20 years ago when they took Courtney Brown, but will he able to able to get to the elite level? Peppers and Ogunjobi are starting-caliber players, but neither are difference-makers. Njoku is somewhat of an enigma, a guy who tantalizes you with athleticism who still is learning how to be a good football player. Kizer was a bust, and everyone 4th round and below are no longer on the Browns. With a draft class with five picks in the top 65, you'd hope for a little more.
Grade: C+ (really close to B-)
Grade: C+ (really close to B-)
There are only three players left on the roster and one is suspended indefinitely.
Also, we draft Kizer in a draft that includes Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. I know hindsight is 2020, but NOBODY saw Mahomes becoming something? Did the Browns even have scouts?
F+ grade.
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Are these your grades? Seem fair enough (maybe assess a grade to each pick....keeping in mind where they were taken)
Are these your grades? Seem fair enough (maybe assess a grade to each pick....keeping in mind where they were taken)
Yes, the overall grade on the draft class review I did is my grade.
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Grade: C+ (really close to B-)
There are only three players left on the roster and one is suspended indefinitely.
Also, we draft Kizer in a draft that includes Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. I know hindsight is 2020, but NOBODY saw Mahomes becoming something? Did the Browns even have scouts?
F+ grade.
There are only three players left on the roster and one is suspended indefinitely.
Also, we draft Kizer in a draft that includes Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. I know hindsight is 2020, but NOBODY saw Mahomes becoming something? Did the Browns even have scouts?
F+ grade.
True, big BROWNS washout draft almost nobody left from some pretty good draft positions, wrong quarterback picked (I'm watching Watson now) what year is this again?
........Also, we draft Kizer in a draft that includes Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. I know hindsight is 2020, but NOBODY saw Mahomes becoming something? Did the Browns even have scouts?.......
Boy scouts or girl scouts?
Grade: in hindsight, D+ would be kind. (Note: Njoku could still be very productive, we don't know on Garrett's status yet potentially could rise)
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I don't know what drafting Kizer had to do with Mahomes or Watson, its not like they were on the board when they took him. Mahomes was taken #10 overall, Watson #12. Browns didn't have another pick until #25. Kizer was taken way after those two.
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I don't know what drafting Kizer had to do with Mahomes or Watson, its not like they were on the board when they took him. Mahomes was taken #10 overall, Watson #12. Browns didn't have another pick until #25. Kizer was taken way after those two.
I don't know what drafting Kizer had to do with Mahomes or Watson, its not like they were on the board when they took him. Mahomes was taken #10 overall, Watson #12. Browns didn't have another pick until #25. Kizer was taken way after those two.
The Browns had the #1 pick. They could have got their QB and another quality player with the pick they used on Kizer. Point is they saw something in Kizer and not Mahomes or Watson, c'mon man. There talent scout must have been Stevie Wonder.
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I don't know what drafting Kizer had to do with Mahomes or Watson, its not like they were on the board when they took him. Mahomes was taken #10 overall, Watson #12. Browns didn't have another pick until #25. Kizer was taken way after those two.
I don't know what drafting Kizer had to do with Mahomes or Watson, its not like they were on the board when they took him. Mahomes was taken #10 overall, Watson #12. Browns didn't have another pick until #25. Kizer was taken way after those two.
They didn't try (that we know of) to trade for picks to get any other quarterback -but- it wasn't really a QB loaded draft.
But outside of Garrett the draft didn't go the way I wanted it to go......oh well. Still the biggest crap shoot in sports.
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Are these your grades? Seem fair enough (maybe assess a grade to each pick....keeping in mind where they were taken)
Yes, the overall grade on the draft class review I did is my grade.
Yes, the overall grade on the draft class review I did is my grade.
x-gm Mark Dominick on nfl radio graded it as a solid C...your all over it...
To others, a huge minus deduction is given on players no longer in the league. this is not the case here as other Browns drafts..
Dayes was on the Hawks ps & Wilson is not a huge hit due to injury
Trade up or down values are never included in player grades
Well done Dutch!
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I don't know what drafting Kizer had to do with Mahomes or Watson, its not like they were on the board when they took him. Mahomes was taken #10 overall, Watson #12. Browns didn't have another pick until #25. Kizer was taken way after those two.
The Browns had the #1 pick. They could have got their QB and another quality player with the pick they used on Kizer. Point is they saw something in Kizer and not Mahomes or Watson, c'mon man. There talent scout must have been Stevie Wonder.
The Browns had the #1 pick. They could have got their QB and another quality player with the pick they used on Kizer. Point is they saw something in Kizer and not Mahomes or Watson, c'mon man. There talent scout must have been Stevie Wonder.
I could be wrong, but I don't think there is a team or a scout alive who would have suggested using the #1 overall pick on Watson or Mahomes then. Of course it seems like someone would have now, but a lot of people thought both QBs were somewhat of a reach where they were taken.
But of course, if the Browns had to do it over, they would take Mahomes #1.
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And if some of you think this draft warranted a D+ or F, I'm not sure a letter grade exists for what you would give the 2016 Browns draft. ?
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And if some of you think this draft warranted a D+ or F, I'm not sure a letter grade exists for what you would give the 2016 Browns draft. ?
And if some of you think this draft warranted a D+ or F, I'm not sure a letter grade exists for what you would give the 2016 Browns draft. ?
Oh God. Everything in life is relevant comparing 2017 and 2016. B and incomplete. (Note again, the 3 number 1 picks in 2017 was somewhat disappointing.)
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I don't know what drafting Kizer had to do with Mahomes or Watson, its not like they were on the board when they took him. Mahomes was taken #10 overall, Watson #12. Browns didn't have another pick until #25. Kizer was taken way after those two.
I don't know what drafting Kizer had to do with Mahomes or Watson, its not like they were on the board when they took him. Mahomes was taken #10 overall, Watson #12. Browns didn't have another pick until #25. Kizer was taken way after those two.
Recall though, that Browns had the #10 pick in addition to the #1 pick. They could have taken either Watson or Mahomes with #10.....but decided to trade down to get 2 other 1st round picks, which they took Peppers and Njoku. Remember?
That was Sashi's wheeling an dealing.
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I don't know what drafting Kizer had to do with Mahomes or Watson, its not like they were on the board when they took him. Mahomes was taken #10 overall, Watson #12. Browns didn't have another pick until #25. Kizer was taken way after those two.
Recall though, that Browns had the #10 pick in addition to the #1 pick. They could have taken either Watson or Mahomes with #10.....but decided to trade down to get 2 other 1st round picks, which they took Peppers and Njoku. Remember?
That was Sashi's wheeling an dealing.
Recall though, that Browns had the #10 pick in addition to the #1 pick. They could have taken either Watson or Mahomes....but decided to trade down to get 2 other 1st round picks, which they took Peppers and Njoku. Remember?
Oh wow, I did not, totally forgot about that.
That changes things, then.
Jesus, the Browns could have had Garrett AND Mahomes/Watson, instead of Garrett, Peppers and Njoku. Damn.
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Recall though, that Browns had the #10 pick in addition to the #1 pick. They could have taken either Watson or Mahomes....but decided to trade down to get 2 other 1st round picks, which they took Peppers and Njoku. Remember?
Oh wow, I did not, totally forgot about that.
That changes things, then.
Jesus, the Browns could have had Garrett AND Mahomes/Watson, instead of Garrett, Peppers and Njoku. Damn.
Oh wow, I did not, totally forgot about that.
That changes things, then.
Jesus, the Browns could have had Garrett AND Mahomes/Watson, instead of Garrett, Peppers and Njoku. Damn.
Yep.
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Such a sad list. The good news is every list from every other season would look just as sad....... Gotta love the Browns' consistency.
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Recall though, that Browns had the #10 pick in addition to the #1 pick. They could have taken either Watson or Mahomes....but decided to trade down to get 2 other 1st round picks, which they took Peppers and Njoku. Remember?
Oh wow, I did not, totally forgot about that.
That changes things, then.
Jesus, the Browns could have had Garrett AND Mahomes/Watson, instead of Garrett, Peppers and Njoku. Damn.
Oh wow, I did not, totally forgot about that.
That changes things, then.
Jesus, the Browns could have had Garrett AND Mahomes/Watson, instead of Garrett, Peppers and Njoku. Damn.
IIRC, they could have Garrett and Watson, because they had #12 and Mahomes was picked with #10.
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