NFL Training Camps: Cleveland Browns Rookie Report
By Jon Dove
The Cleveland Browns are a very exciting group of rookies that will be counted to make an impact as soon as this year.
Being the No. 1 overall pick comes with a lot of pressure. Myles Garrett know he needs to produce for the Cleveland Browns. The spotlight will be increasingly bright if one of the 1st round quarterbacks find early success.
Garrett will forever be compared to the production of Mitch Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. The Browns headed into the 2017 NFL draft desperately needing an franchise quarterback, but decided to pull the trigger on Garrett.
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The Browns actually had three 1st round picks this last year and are expecting big things from Jabrill Peppers and David Njoku. Look for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to move Peppers all over the field.
Peppers has the versatility to fill multiple roles on defense as well as be a difference maker in the return game.
Njoku is a little raw, but possesses elite athleticism. He’ll immediately be a mismatch problem from the tight end position. There just aren’t a lot of individuals that posses his combination of length, quickness and body control.
The reports out of OTAs have painted a positive picture for DeShone Kizer. It appears that he will have a legitimate shot of winning the starting job in training camp. At the very least, he should see playing time at some point in the regular season.
Larry Ogunjobi and Caleb Brantley are going to have a chance to earn a role in the defensive line rotation. Cleveland is shifting their defensive approach under Gregg Williams and need a penetrating defensive tackle. This is the best skill set for both Ogunjobi and Brantley.
Roderick Johnson is a bit of a wildcard. He has the raw talent to be an extremely effective left tackle in the NFL. However, his overall mechanics are inconsistent and thus make him unreliable.
Matthew Dayes may not be flashy but he could carve out a role in the backfield. He’s a versatile runner who can also help in the passing game.