Arizona State defensive lineman Renell Wren runs a drill at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

INDIANAPOLIS – Arizona State defensive tackle Renell Hall used to be a basketball player. He was introduced to football during his sophomore year of high school.

“I didn’t necessarily like it that much. But in the long run, the next year, my coach told me in college that you can choose only one sport. You can’t play football and basketball,” Wren said at the NFL combine. “I’m an average-sized basketball player, being 6-4 in college. I chose to do football. I love the game. I love the

physicality of it.”

Now on the cusp on the NFL, Wren might be just the right size for the interior of the Browns’ defensive line.

The Browns have 10 picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, including No. 17 overall. The Browns have their starting quarterback, but still have many areas of need. Cleveland.com is profiling players who could address those needs at various points in the draft.

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Who: Arizona State defensive tackle Renell Wren.

Size: 6-4, 318.

What he's done: Playing primarily nose tackle at Arizona State, Wren had 13.5 tackles for loss in his final three seasons. He was rated 23rd among FBS interior defenders by Pro Football Focus.

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North defensive tackle Renell Wren of Arizona State (95) runs drills during practice for the 2019 Senior Bowl. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

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How the Browns could get him: Wren is projected as a mid-round draft pick, and could potentially be had in the fifth round when the Browns have three picks.

Why the Browns should want him: It's no secret that Browns GM John Dorsey likes players with a quick first step off the snap. His draft history suggests he targets players who excel in the vertical and/or broad jump at the NFL combine, two drills that measure explosiveness.

Wren tied for third in the broad jump (118 inches), and seventh in the vertical (32) among defensive linemen at the combine. But then, Wren is already known for his explosive first step.

“A lot of teams look at my first step and explosiveness and everything. They like my versatility because of the Reese’s Senior Bowl, I actually played the shade, which is a one technique, the three and the five,” Wren said at the combine. “A lot of people love the versatility of D-linemen, being able to line up anywhere and just going to attack. I love to overpower people. I love to bull rush. But my improvement will come with two or three more pass-rush moves, but my bull rush has been so dominant that the coaches tell me that if that’s the biggest thing I can do, then don’t let it die.”

Wren, officially measured at 6-4 3/8 at the combine, also has the length Dorsey wants along the defensive interior.

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Why they may not want him: Wren needs to add more moves to his game because the bull rush technique won't always work at the NFL level. As a mid-round prospect, he's definitely not a finished product.

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Arizona State's Renell Wren prepares for a play during a 2018 game in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

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Here's what else Wren had to say at the NFL combine:

On becoming an impact pass rusher in the NFL: "I really been looking at Chris Jones from the Chiefs and Fletcher Cox from the Eagles, just going on YouTube and looking at their pass-rush moves and getting extra work outside of training, just doing the things that people are not seeing and being able to take more on the one man's shoulders instead of going straight down his chest. Just being able to improve that and showing people I can do more than be just overpowering."

On the biggest improvement to his game: "Man, the biggest thing is just working to stay consistent. When (Arizona State coach Herm Edwards) came in, he don't care, incoming freshmen or sophomore, junior. If you're not doing your job, your job will be taken by an underclassmen or somebody who really wants it. He always says, 'You play to win the game.' The best players are going to play and that's all he has to say."

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On what he loves about football: "The physicality. I love being physical. I love the attacking. I love to attack my opponent before he comes and gets me, just being able to disrupt the middle. I love it."

On any time when he wasn't good at football: "Honestly, at the start of football, which was my sophomore year of high school. I didn't know anything. All I learned to do was get up the field. Now, just knowing these movements and knowing I can tell the hand placement of the guards and centers, the backfield, the strength call, the weak call, and everything. Knowing that makes the game way slower."

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OTHER PROFILES

Ole Miss offensive lineman Greg Little.

Northern Illinois offensive lineman Max Scharping.

Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur.

Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew.

Iowa State wide receiver Hakeem Butler.

Boston College tight end Tommy Sweeney.

Baylor wide receiver Jalen Hurd.

Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat.

Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver.

Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf.

Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.

LSU linebacker Devin White.

Miami defensive end Joe Jackson.

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