CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Another Browns draft, and another result differing from what many fans predicted. This time, however, avoiding the predictable might turn out beautifully for the Browns.

Andrew Thomas, in what should have been an unsurprising move, went fourth overall to the Giants in yesterday's first round of the 2020 NFL draft and that removed the tackle many believed Cleveland had their eyes set on taking when their turn came up at pick 10. From there some quarterbacks went and then the only other non-tackle I expected the Browns to take in defensive weapon Isaiah Simmons.

So when the Browns selection finally rolled around, they had their pick of the three of the top four tackles on the board. Many expected Tristan Wirfs name to be called, but in a somewhat surprising twist, the Browns went with Alabama's Jedrick Wills Jr. and his fit in Cleveland might be more ideal than I imagined.

I will admit: I didn't give Wills the necessary time I should have. I falsely pegged the Browns to have Thomas fall in their lap, and if they didn't get that result, I saw them taking the tackle who stole the show at the combine in Wirfs. The thought of Wills, who plays in Alabama's RPO heavy offense, didn't cross my mind seriously enough despite the love many have for his game. So, I went back and watched every snap of his 2019 season so you don't have to.

Count me into that mix of those who see the traits that so many loved. I am always one to go back and watch the tape, but I also pay attention to what those making the selection had to say as well. General Manager Andrew Berry had all the right things to say. "For us to get a young, very, very talented tackle that can grow with the young core of our roster, we’re very excited to do." Berry also confirmed Wills will play left tackle in Cleveland. “There's going to be some physical re-programming,” but he added Wills has the feet, athletic ability to be a left tackle."

Let's check the tape for Wills strengths and weaknesses as he enters the NFL.

Fitting Multiple Schemes

Per Pro Football Focus, Wills took his elite explosion testing numbers, including high-90th percentile in both vertical jump and broad jump, and applied them to his game in 2019. The full picture came together. Wills allowed a pressure rate of 4.0% or less for the second straight year in pass protection, and his run-blocking grade of 90.1 ranked sixth among FBS tackles last season.

Alabama has a heavy focus on the RPO game and it leads to weird timing between ball delivery and offensive line blocking. The balance is tough to find, and Alabama does it well for the most part. The 2019 version of the Crimson Tide's offense had plenty of gap schemes including Power, Counter, ISO, and Pin/Pull, and on those schemes Wills had an 86.6 grade per Pro Football Focus.

He has a powerful initial drive step and keeps his body aligned and proportioned well when he is driving inside. You will also notice he reads first to second level of the defense at an advanced pace. He has an innate feel for when to peel off his initial double to pick up the plugging or scraping linebacker.

Although he is one of the nastiest run blockers in this class, he brings nice agility to his game as well. He moves more like a blocking tight end or agile interior defensive lineman than a lumbering tackle. The mixture of agility and power play well when Alabama ran their wide zone and mid zone schemes in 2019. Wills 87.3 zone grade ranked as one of the best in the country. He can perform the required rip/run for tackles in this scheme, and he can also cut the backside and pursue to the second level as you will see in the clips below as well.

For the year, Wills had only seven penalties, five of which were false starts -- which speaks to eagerness to get off the ball. He also went without a holding call throughout the year although he can get grabby at times.

With Wills you are getting a player who can hold the point of attack against nearly anyone, a player who can drive anchored double-teams, and ultimately a tackle who can handle the wide zone running but also create vertical run game movement as well. He will fit well with what Kevin Stefanski will ask of him in Cleveland's run game.

Avoiding Playing with too much Lean

For dominant college tackles the game can come so easy that leaning your top half can get the job done when need be. Wills is guilty of this occasionally where he presumes he is going to win the rep and will get a touch lazy when trying to drive from contact. You will also notice if you dig into his film that he likes to get punch happy in his approach. Occasionally he will try to "one-pop" opposing defenders for the highlight blowback instead of maintaining drive.

He will also get lazy with his head side of run game blocking when he needs to shut off an angle.

The missed run game blocks were quite few and far between for Wills and if he can get into an offense with less guessing on RPO run or pass, he will improve his patience. He will also have to work on his consistency in progressing to the second level of the defense. Some snaps you will see him arrive hastily and with purpose while others he seems to be lacking that urgency you want.

Overall, Wills is a run game mauler whose mixture of hand strength and elite agility/footwork make for a lethal combination. Given his experience in the types of schemes Cleveland will run often, along with the gap concepts I expect to be used plenty in 2020, it is quite easy to see why the front office viewed him as ideal fit for their running style.

Impressive Pass Blocking Traits

For Wills, his issue has not been pass protection in his career and 2019 was not much different. He had an 80.8 pass-block grade and 79.5 in true pass sets. He got the job done, and he did so with multiple quarterbacks and one who like to hold the ball a decent amount before delivery. When Wills is hitting his marks, punching with those boxing mitts, and staying on balance his pass protection can be teaching tape. He has mastered the pull trap, and I didn't see him get beat upfield once on film by an EDGE turning the corner on him with quickness.

There is sheer domination both physically and with technique in here. If a defender tries to bull rush Wills or quick upfield rush him, they will lose that battle.

You will find that nearly 95 percent of Wills pass protection reps go well. He is lighting quick out of his stance and his initial kick with his back foot to get into his pass drop is lengthy and helpful to his general cause. You will often see him reaching a half second before his teammates on the offensive line. Notice that aggressive right foot kicking for depth. The quick twitch is there for the big fella.

Although Wills gets to his kick step with great tempo, the problem can be two things. First, his path can be flawed. Too often you will see Wills set wide from the line of scrimmage instead of gaining depth. Pay attention to his initial step out of his stance below.

When Wills gets zealous like this, trying to control the whole rep, it leaves his opponent an opportunity to attack him. When the pass set gets wide like we see from Wills often, he leaves his shoulder square as you see here.

This poor angle Wills sets for himself allows edge rushers to attack his upfield shoulder and then win back inside often. When Wills struggles, it is often because he allowed his defender to win inside. If he creates that correct angle with his torso, hips, and feet it becomes an easy fix for Wills. The problems inside were the main cause of his 2019 pressures.

When he shows the necessary patience that Bill Callahan and Joe Thomas will preach to him in Cleveland, handling that inside spin move will become something Wills can handle at a much higher success rate.

Final Thoughts

For Wills, the traits are there for the young man to be a future All-Pro at the NFL level. We truly don't know how the transition from right tackle to left tackle will go for the young man, but considering his young age, just 20 years of age, willingness to work, athleticism, and coaching quality, its hard not to see it working out in his transition to the opposite side.

Will all of his strengths and weaknesses translate when he switches? Nobody truly knows that. He could have no issue with inside rushes upon switching sides but new issues could arise. It will be a learning process for the young tackle, and the Browns understand that. But they also know they got one of the more NFL-ready tackles in this class and a guy who has the ability to do freakish athletic things like this clip below. No 315 pound man should be able to get up that quick and anchor with strength again.

Wills knows the task ahead will be important for the Browns and they will need him to perform immediately. Quarterback Baker Mayfield will be banking on it and Wills knows it. "I want him to know that I got his back. That's something that I take pride in and I hate losing, so let him know he's got someone on his hands who's going to do everything they can to protect him."

I find that statement to be something I already believe and it's something the Browns will desperately need.