With a new regime in place, the Browns added volume in this year's draft. They did it by taking a lot of proven big-conference players early in the draft. Corey Coleman is an explosive playmaker the Browns just don't have on the roster. Second round defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah is a strong and athletic, and capable of getting to the quarterback. Still, with some of the other pass rushers on the board, it was a little early for Ogbah. The Browns followed that pick up with another front seven player in Penn State defensive lineman Carl Nassib. In the third round, the team grabbed offensive tackle Shon Coleman, who could quickly become the team's starter on the right side.
Even with Coleman, the Browns got multiple pass catchers on Day 3. Louis was a surprising pick in the fourth round. He's got size and speed, sure, but doesn't catch the ball that well. Maybe he'll get moved to cornerback. UCLA's Jordan Payton gives the Browns a physical wide out and Rashard Higgins is a easy catcher of the ball. It was a surprise to see him available late in the fifth round.
—Dan Kadar, SB Nation
The Browns gauged the wide receiver market correctly and nabbed the first receiver off the board. Although he wasn't the top available receiver on my personal big board, the difference of the top three receivers (Treadwell, Doctson, and Coleman) was almost negligible. At the end of the day, I trust Hue Jackson's belief of which receiver he can utilize the best, so Coleman is perfectly fine in my book.
The Browns made a significant investment at the defensive tackle position last year with Danny Shelton in the first round and Xavier Cooper in the third round, but when you look at the current roster, they needed some fresh talent at the defensive end position. Desmond Bryant might not be in the team's long-term future, and Randy Starks was a placeholder all of last season, merely covering up a position of need. Ray Horton has a vision on how to re-tool the team's pass rush, and it starts with this selection, whether you figure him in at defensive end or outside linebacker. When the staff at Dawgs By Nature compiled our Browns big boards, Ogbah was cumulatively listed as the No. 10 remaining player on our big board.
With the No. 65 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected DE Carl Nassib of Penn State. The Browns took DE/OLB Emmanuel Ogbah in the second round, so to address the position in back-to-back rounds shows that the team wanted to drastically upgrade the edges of the defense. Ray Horton, defensive coordinator, must have looked at the team's defensive front and said, "these guys aren't cutting it." You also have to wonder if the team might consider cutting a guy like OLB Paul Kruger or OLB Barkevious Mingo after investing in youth.
With the No. 76 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected OT Shon Coleman of Auburn. The Browns decided to let center Alex Mack and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz walk in free agency this offseason. Besides adding a low-key lineman in Alvin Bailey this offseason, they didn't address either position in free agency. Cameron Erving, the team's first-round pick from a year ago, will be given a shot at center in all likelihood. The bigger void was at right tackle, where nobody realistically expected the starting competition to be between Bailey and Michael Bowie. I'd say that Coleman is already the early favorite to start there.
We were wondering when the Browns would take their quarterback, and they finally did it with their final third round pick. Robert Griffin III is still most definitely favored to start, while Kessler will be viewed as a longer-term project or backup. We've seen what's happened in the case of a Russell Wilson before, though, so you never know. The team could be looking to move on from either Josh McCown, Austin Davis, or Connor Shaw after this selection.
Schobert is a solid linebacker who fits the mold of the players the Browns have selected thus far -- solid character, fits the Browns' defensive system, and nice stats in college.
Despite adding Corey Coleman with the 15th overall pick, the Browns still desperately needed help at the wide receiver position with Josh Gordon's future in the NFL and the Browns in doubt. Coleman is a dynamic, fast receiver, but Louis can complement him with a bigger presence, although he's also viewed as a developmental prospect. With all due respect to the Browns' receivers that were already on the roster, Robert Griffin III now has a major upgrade in young talent at the position.
With the No. 129 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected S Derrick Kindred of TCU. He was the team's third selection in the fourth round. With Tashaun Gipson departing in free agency and Donte Whitner being cut recently, the Browns said goodbye to both of their starting safeties from a year ago.
The Cleveland Browns selected TE Seth DeValve (6-3, 245 lbs) of Princeton. He was the team's fourth selection in the fourth round. Gary Barnidge is coming off of a tremendous season, but there's nothing wrong with having two potentially explosive tight ends. There is a lot of upside with his athleticism.
With the No. 154 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected WR Jordan Payton (6-1, 207 lbs) of UCLA. He was the team's first selection in the fifth round.The wide receivers keep on coming. The team already selected WR Corey Coleman in round one and WR Ricardo Louis in round four, so Payton is the third receiver taken.
The Cleveland Browns selected OG Spencer Drango of Baylor. He was the team's second selection in the fifth round. Cleveland still has their two starting guards, Joel Bitonio and John Greco, returning this year, so taking a guard at this point is more of a depth move. It could give the team some flexibility if they'd like to move Greco to center or Bitonio to right tackle, though.
With the No. 172 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected WR Rashard Higgins (6-1, 196 lbs) of Colorado State. He was the team's third selection in the fifth round. The receivers keep on coming for the Browns in this draft; it's their fourth one already! Higgins might be the most talked about after WR Corey Coleman, because many people had a Day 2 grade on him, specifically with second round projections.
With the No. 173 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected CB Trey Caldwell of UL-Monroe. He was the team's fourth and final selection in the fifth round. Cleveland's cornerback situation was awful last year, despite the talent they had on paper.
With the No. 250 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected LB Scooby Wright of Arizona. He was the team's final selection in the seventh round after another trade down.