Fair or not, it is the draft that will define John Dorsey’s tenure as general manager of the Browns, largely in part because of the quarterback picked with the first overall selection.
Here’s our in-depth analysis of the first 5 members of the draft class of 2018.
The selection of Mayfield may not have been as bold as we in the media have been making it out to be. Multiple sources have told 92.3 The Fan over the past few days since the pick that Cleveland wasn’t the only team to have Mayfield as the top QB in the class. Peter King of the MMQB.com detailed this in his Monday morning column as well. It is also why Dorsey didn’t get a lot of serious offers for the No. 4 pick, ultimately used to select Ohio State corner Denzel Ward, because Mayfield was off the board. With well-respected and experienced evaluators Alonzo Highsmith and Eliot Wolf aiding in Dorsey’s evaluation process, the Browns get a little benefit of the doubt here. The pressure shifts to Mayfield to prove they picked the right QB and the Browns to bring him along without rushing him to the field. While the plan is to have Tyrod Taylor start Week 1, Mayfield will be allowed to come in and compete for the job, but it is imperative that the Browns do not repeat sins of the past when it comes to rushing a young QB to the field too soon. While questions remain about Mayfield’s 6-0 5/8 frame and the fact he played in the Big 12, where defense is usually optional, Mayfield’s accuracy, arm talent and ability to make plays within the pocket by using his feet to extend plays with his eyes downfield stand out. Dorsey believes that, and is counting on, those 3 aspects of Mayfield’s game translating in Cleveland.
While we await the 3-4-year referendum on Mayfield’s selection, Ward might be the best pick of the draft. Ward immediately is penciled in as a starter and he’s the lone member of the class to have such an honor. The Browns lacked a true No. 1 cover corner and Ward fills that void, and with A.J. Green and Antonio Brown on the schedule 4 times a year, filling it was a must. While some might criticize his height, Ward isn’t the first 5-11 corner the Browns have picked high in the first round of a draft. Joe Haden, picked seventh overall in 2010, went on to make a pair of Pro Bowls as a Brown. Ward is more than just a pure athlete. At Ohio State, Ward played a lot of man-to-man whereas most corners in college play some sort of zone or quarters making him NFL-ready. Sure, there will be a transition and Ward will have to refine his technique, but the potential is there for him to reach a level of Pro Bowl-caliber play.
The third member of the class is an interesting pick at No. 33 overall in round 2. Publicly, the Browns say they aren’t sure where Corbett will fit in. They feel he could play both tackle and guard – and if needed maybe a little center too. It appears that Corbett will start training camp as their sixth offensive lineman, but he will get an opportunity to compete with Shon Coleman for the left tackle job. It seems inconceivable that Dorsey would pick a player atop the second round with no clear-cut plan for him. Keep in mind that it could simply be Dorsey’s way of providing some flexibility for both Corbett and the organization while avoiding unnecessary and burdensome expectations that he will immediately step in and replace a presumed future Hall of Famer.
Thank the New York Giants for this pick. With the Giants taking Penn State runner Saquon Barkley second overall behind Mayfield, Dorsey was able to take Corbett 33 and wait until 35 to pick Chubb. In 47 games, Chubb averaged 6.3 yards per carry compared to 5.7 for Barkley in 38 games. After suffering a major left knee injury in 2015 that saw him tear multiple ligaments – except his ACL – and cartilage, Chubb bounced back and did not miss a game in 2016 or 2017 where he totaled 2,475 yards and 23 touchdowns. He racked up 23 100-yard rushing games and 3 200-yard games in his collegiate career. Combined with free agent running back Carlos Hyde, Chubb is expected to provide the Browns with a strong 1-2 power punch in the backfield with Duke Johnson serving as a dynamic third option.
Thomas really broke out the last 2 years on the Hurricanes defensive line where he racked up 78 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks after seeing limited time in his first 2 seasons. Thomas possesses the size, speed and power pro scouts look for and his ceiling is high, but some draft profiles questioned his overall production, ability in the run game and the need to refine his technique. With Myles Garrett and Emmanuel Ogbah holding down the starting jobs, Thomas provides defensive coordinator Gregg Williams with another edge rusher to rotate in.