These aren’t hot takes.
These are bold takes for every Cleveland Browns rookie.
Let’s get started.
1. OL Jedrick Wills Jr (First Round)
- 14 starts
- PFF ranking of 70.0
- Two sacks allowed
The 2019 season was dominant with Wills leading the way at Alabama.
Wills allowed just one sack all season and 3.5 quarterback hurries in 771 snaps for a success rate of 99.0%.
He helped anchor the offensive line that allowed just .92 sacks per game, which ranked third in the nation.
The NFL will be a different story but Wills will be asked to start right away for this revamped offensive line.
In the realm of his ranking, Pro Bowler Joel Bitonio was ranked 74.2.
Protect Baker at all costs !!!🦍
With the 10th pick in the 2020 NFL draft the Cleveland Browns select Jedrick Wills Jr. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/R6eYGfBQai
— 5iveStarSports (@5iveStarSports_) April 24, 2020
2. S Grant Delpit (Second Round)
- 16 Starts
- 3.5 sacks
- 7 passes defended
Delpit is rising through the depth chart and appears to be a leading candidate to start over Anthony Sendejo.
With that being said, the Browns are going to start Delpit at safety all season.
When Delpit is on the field, he is going to produce because defensive coordinator Joe Woods loves to use defensive backs in his scheme.
Delpit finished the last two seasons with two and five sacks, so we met in the middle.
3. DT Jordan Elliott (Third Round)
- 12 games played
- 25 tackles
- 3.0 sacks
Elliott’s going to get playing time after Andrew Billings opted out.
Since Billings is gone, he is the bona fide backup defensive tackle.
Elliott should get the first nod to give Larry Ogunjobi or Sheldon Richardson a rest, so he has a chance to play nearly all of the season, but we are going to give him three-fourths.
In college, Elliott never surpassed 3.5 sacks, so maybe he will surprise at the pro level.
4. LB Jacob Phillips (Third Round)
- Five games played
- 10 tackles
- Zero sacks
I am not high on Phillips seeing the field a lot in 2020, especially after Woods hinted at minimizing the linebacker position.
Phillips already has Sione Takitaki, Mack Wilson, BJ Goodson, and Tae Davis ahead of him on the depth chart.
Realistically, it’s possible that the defense could see just two linebackers on the field during a play.
That does not give me a lot of confidence that Phillips will make a significant impact in 2020.
5. TE Harrison Bryant (Fourth Round)
- 20 receptions
- 250 yards
- 3 touchdowns
Last year, Demetrius Harris was rated as the backup tight end to David Njoku.
Harris finished the season with 15 receptions for 149 yards and three touchdowns.
Bryant doesn’t just have Njoku in front of him but also newly acquired Austin Hooper.
The Browns could try and use both tight ends in offensive sets, but I’m not completely convinced Njoku will stay with the Browns all season.
He has already requested a trade, so if that happens, that opens the door for Bryant.
Harrison Bryant snaps from X when facing 3rd overall pick Jeff Okudah. #Browns pic.twitter.com/9bS4jylT6L
— OBR Film Breakdown (@TheOBRFilmBDN) April 29, 2020
6. C Nick Harris (Fifth Round)
- 8 games played
- Plays at guard, not center
- Starts at least one game
Harris could be pushed to playing right away.
However, most of his playing time will come from another side of the offensive line.
Starting center, JC Tretter, doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.
He will just need to get acclimated to the new position.
7. WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (Sixth-Round)
- Wins starting job at punt returner
- Has one returning touchdown
- Plays zero games at wide receiver
DPJ was an All-Big 10 player at special teams at Michigan.
Jarvis Landry was the main return man, but that job could up for grabs.
Right now, DBJ is ranked as the No. 4 return man on the team’s depth chart.
After all, these are bold predictions.
NEXT: 3 Reasons To Still Be Worried About The Browns In 2020
