The Cleveland Browns strengthened their defense on Friday with the selections of LSU safety Grant Delpit, Missouri defensive tackle Jordan Elliot, and LSU linebacker Jacob Phillips.
Here are Delpit and Phillips during their 2019 championship season with the Tigers:
🗣 CLEVELAND pic.twitter.com/5fl6SdM1Jr
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) April 25, 2020
SEC football has been Andrew Berry’s specialty during his first NFL draft as a general manager.
This was not his intention from the start though:
Andrew Berry on all 4 picks coming from the SEC:
“I can assure you we did not plan it … But these are all good players in arguably the best conference in college football.”
— Andrew Gribble (@Andrew_Gribble) April 25, 2020
The Browns currently have five players from LSU, matching the number of Miami Hurricanes that they had on the roster at the end of 2019.
There are plenty of more players on Cleveland’s draft board, but the Browns could still be mulling over a trade for Anthony Harris.
Berry was busy on Friday, as he made trades with the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints.
The Browns’ selections on day 3 of the 2020 NFL Draft are No. 115, No. 160 (via the Colts), and No. 187 (via the Cardinals).
Cleveland traded away its seventh round selection in the New Orleans deal.
With the Browns’ three selections on Saturday, here are some options for them to consider:
Round 4, No. 115: Utah DE Bradlee Anae
A player that the Browns need to keep an eye on is the “Mayor of Sack Lake City.”
Utah defensive end Bradlee Anae, who has gone by that mayoral nickname, was originally projected to be drafted in either the third or fourth round.
Cleveland has expressed interest in the senior defensive force.
He was a Consensus All-American in 2019 when he registered a career-high 13 sacks, seven-highest in the nation.
Anae is also the sack leader in Utah Utes history.
Early in the fourth round, the Browns should be keeping an eye on the 2019 Morris Trophy winner for the best defensive lineman.
Although the Browns are in no hurry to release defensive end Olivier Vernon, they are not in favor of paying him $15.25 million in 2020.v
Anae could be the perfect pick for the Browns if they want to part ways with Vernon, the eight-year veteran from the University of Miami.
Round 5, No. 160: Miami (FL) CB Trajan Bandy
While one Miami Hurricane may be on his way out, another Hurricane may be on the Browns by the end of the day.
If Cleveland continues the defensive trend, the organization could add to its depth of Hurricanes with cornerback Trajan Bandy.
There is a chance he could be a “priority free agent” instead of a draft pick, according to NFL.com.
However, the 180-lb, 5’8″ junior was a 2019 All-ACC honorable mention after being selected to the 2018 All-ACC Third-Team.
The Hurricanes took a step back in 2018, but Bandy did not. He had college career highs in tackles, sacks, interceptions, and fumble recoveries.
The Browns should take a flyer on Bandy for his consistent ability to defend passes successfully.
He is in the top 25 in the ACC in that category over the last 15 years.
Round 6, No. 187: Wide Receiver or Michigan State LB Joe Bachie
The Browns could try to improve their receiving corps with a wide receiver like Liberty’s Antonio Gandy-Golden, who is projected for the fourth or fifth round.
Other options include Oregon State’s Isaiah Hodgins, Syracuse’s Trishton Jackson, and Rhode Island’s Isaiah Coulter.
There will be wide receivers remaining in the sixth round, but the Browns have the chance of getting arguably one of the best linebackers in the draft in Joe Bachie.
If the Browns are very excited about him, he may be better suited for a fifth-round selection.
NFL.com projects the senior 230-lb, 6’1″ linebacker as a sixth-rounder though.
He was on pace for another career year in 2019, as he had already set career highs in tackles for loss and sacks.
However, his senior year was cut short due to testing positive for a banned substance.
His final college game was on October 26, 2019.
Even with Bachie’s one-time issue, Cleveland would be taking one of the best picks of the later rounds if the team gets Bachie.
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