The Cleveland Browns had seven selections during the 2020 NFL Draft, and several experts praised the Browns for a strong draft.
Time for us to get to work. 😤#BrownsDraft Recap: https://t.co/LMFtGi7932 pic.twitter.com/gSC4CJqjzC
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 26, 2020
Here are the rankings for every 2020 Cleveland Browns rookie by impact in the upcoming season:
1. Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama
The five-star offensive tackle recruit was on the Alabama Crimson Tide National Championship team in 2017.
Wills will be able to have the most impact for the Browns, as he will be the starting left tackle for the team.
Although he was a right tackle in college, his success at the position was impressive.
He was First-Team All-SEC in 2019, as he helped Alabama win a postseason game for the fifth consecutive year.
Both quarterback Baker Mayfield and general manager Andrew Berry were excited about the Browns’ first round selection in the 2020 draft:
#Browns GM Andrew Berry: Incredibly excited to add Jedrick Wills. Last 2 years at Alabama and his makeup, we thought he fit what we needed. Great feet, advanced in pass pro and very physical in the run game. Well-rounded player. Impressed by his organization habits and routine.
— Nate Ulrich (@ByNateUlrich) April 24, 2020
2. Grant Delpit, S, LSU
Cleveland’s pass defense adds a playmaker
The Browns draft LSU safety Grant Delpit with the No. 44 pick in the #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/0Ts9tivkMh
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) April 25, 2020
The Browns traded the No. 41 pick to the Indianapolis Colts for the No. 44 and No. 160 selections.
Cleveland made a smart move to make the trade because the organization found first round talent.
The LSU defensive back had high marks heading into the 2020 draft.
Delpit intercepted the most passes in the SEC in 2018.
He then received the Jim Thorpe Award for the nation’s best defensive back in 2019.
He won the award even after battling through a high ankle sprain.
Not even an injury can get in the way of Delpit, as he missed just one game in LSU’s 2019 championship season.
The Browns hope to have him fully healthy entering his rookie year.
3. Jordan Elliott, DT, Missouri
Mizzou’s Jordan Elliott made PFF’s First Team All American pic.twitter.com/ytjN1dX7sC
— Shaun Newkirk (@Shauncore) December 2, 2019
Elliott grew up in Missouri City, Texas, and he coincidentally attended both the University of Texas and the University of Missouri.
After one season at Texas, he transferred to Missouri.
During his redshirt season in 2017, Elliott was the defensive scout team player of the year and the team’s lifter of the year.
He then made All-SEC Teams in Both His Years at Missouri.
New #Browns DT Jordan Elliott’s 91.4 PFF pass-rush grade since 2017 ranked 1st among NFL Draft DTs pic.twitter.com/O3KdCNvdoV
— PFF CLE Browns (@PFF_Browns) April 25, 2020
With such a strong pass-rush grade, Elliott deserves a top-three impact ranking.
4. Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan
Here is where the rankings start to get interesting.
Peoples-Jones was named Michigan’s Rookie of the Year in 2017.
He also was named to the All-Big Ten Third-Team in both 2018 and 2019.
The fourth spot in the impact rankings goes to Peoples-Jones because of his positional flexibility.
Although the Browns’ depth is deep with the return game, he can still be utilized because of his impressive ability:
Go ahead and count the number of Buckeyes Donovan Peoples-Jones shed on this punt return. pic.twitter.com/i73w0YHeC9
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 25, 2017
Peoples-Jones led the Big Ten in punt return yards in both 2017 and 2018.
With his versatility, he also can contribute as a wide receiver.
Peoples-Jones saw his receiving numbers drop in 2019, but it could have been due to his groin injury.
A fully-healthy Peoples-Jones can contribute and truly have an impact on the 2020 Browns in multiple ways.
5. Jacob Phillips, LB, LSU
There is a drop-off for the final three players in the impact rankings.
The Browns wish they could have drafted a linebacker earlier in the draft because it was one of their main needs.
Phillips showed some promise during the NFL Draft Combine though:
Great Rep for LB Jacob Phillips…
(#LSU) #NFLCombine2020
pic.twitter.com/hKSaUeXlhr— Josh Lemoine (@LSUTruth) March 1, 2020
6. Harrison Bryant, TE, Florida Atlantic
He was the John Mackey Award winner for the nation’s top tight end in 2019, so the Browns could have gotten a steal with Bryant:
TOUCHDOWN #FAU!!!
Harrison Bryant gets his first of the year with a 3rd down conversion spanning 14 yards! Watch as he runs right through the #ODU defenders, refusing to go down!
PAT is good.
21-3 FAU, 9:39 2Q pic.twitter.com/xhDEzybKi7
— FAU Owl’s Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) October 26, 2019
However, it remains to be seen if the Conference USA competition will live up to what he will see in the NFL.
Also, with Austin Hooper now on board and David Njoku’s option exercised for his fifth year, the Browns seem set at tight end.
7. Nick Harris, C, Washington
Since the Browns were not looking for a center, they received a D+ grade for this selection.
He does have some skills that the Browns were happy to see though:
Watching Washington C Nick Harris film – especially his work in space – has been a delightful start to today’s film work. Look at him seal pursuit on this rep to allow for the big gain. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/Z1sRIjqllp
— Joe Marino (@TheJoeMarino) December 3, 2019
