I have no idea if the players the Cleveland Browns selected two weeks ago are going to be any good. I don’t think most people do, really. It’s fun to follow these guys and to buy virtual stock in them in the days and weeks and months leading up to the draft, but who knows, especially if you’ve only seen a few highlight reels?

Luckily, we have some help. A scout for an NFC team has been kind enough to look at the tape and share with WFNY his views on every player the Browns selected, from Danny Shelton in the first round all the way to Ifo Ekpre-Olomu in the seventh. I have gently edited these reports only in the interests of clarifying some scout-speak; maybe you knew that “SS” stands for the short shuttle drill already.

Danny Shelton

Massive girth for the nose tackle position. Despite pedestrian testing numbers (7-foot-11-inch broad jump, 5.69 second 40-yard dash, 32-inch arms), Danny compensates with excellent upper/lower body strength and leverage to control interior linemen and occupy blocks. For a big DT with previous weight concerns, he has very good stamina for the position and plays with a high motor, evidenced by his exorbitantly high tackle production for a college nose tackle (90+ tackles). His high sack production will likely not translate to the next level as he lacks the hips, bend, and lateral movement skills to be an elite interior pass rusher, but he will certainly push the pocket and has the skill-set to remain in the game in sub personnel, giving him high value as an every-down nose tackle (his play time percentage could come close to Kansas City’s Dontari Poe). He is better than Phil Taylor the minute he steps in the building and is a definitive upgrade to the interior of the unit.

Cameron Erving

One of the most versatile offensive linemen in this year’s draft. Cam projects to play at right guard over journeyman John Greco initially, but he has the intelligence, length, and athletic ability to play at all five positions on the offensive line (center being the strongest, left tackle being the weakest). He is a good athlete although there are some limitations in space as a run blocker. Has good set quickness, ability to mirror lateral movements in pass pro, and a stout anchor when bulled or vs. speed-to-power. Browns 2014 second-round pick Joel Bitonio is a more athletic, more talented player, but Erving offers solid value and adds more versatility to this unit.

Danny Shelton is better than Phil Taylor the minute he steps in the building.

Nate Orchard

Good athlete with good first step quickness and adequate knee and hip flexibility. This is a guy who relies on his get-off, speed-to-power rush, and instincts to gain depth and close on the QB. He was one of the nation leaders in sacks (18.5) and tackles for loss in 2014, yet he could have been even more productive due to an up-and-down motor and questionable toughness. He would be best suited initially as a sub pass rusher as his strength limitations cause him to get engulfed at the point of attack on base run downs. He is a one-dimensional pass rusher who is not an elite athlete, but there is something to be said about amassing so many sacks and pressures vs. Pac-12 competition.

Duke Johnson

Good athlete with good short area quickness and change of direction. Tightly wound player with some upper and lower body stiffness. Runs HARD and best attribute is his excellent ability to finish runs with a physical style for a smaller back. Ultimately his average lower body strength and adequate contact balance cause him to get tripped up by low tacklers much more than you’d expect for a guy who is only 5-foot-9. The worry is that he falls into the same category as a player like Bishop Sankey of the Tennessee Titans, whose high production, high effort, physical run style, and ability to finish runs masked the fact that he has minimal lower body strength to run through arm tackles and is not an elite athlete to overcome these deficiencies. That being said, Johnson does compliment Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell very well as he will be an effective third down back due to his route running prowess and dependability in pass protection.

Xavier Cooper

Adequate athlete whose testing numbers were outstanding (1.61 second 10-yard dash, 4.83 second 40, 29 bench press reps , 7.23 second three-cone, 4.37 short shuttle). He looks like a classic 3-technique who will be a sub pass rusher for the Browns. His average height (6027) and 31.5-inch arms do not necessarily project to a classic base 5-technique in a 3-4 but other teams have had success with shorter-limbed players at the position (like Arizona with Darnell Dockett). Hard to get fired up about this player in this scheme but he does improve the pass rush on third down.

Ibraheim Campbell

This is a high risk, high reward player whose shirt and shorts production in a workout setting vastly overrates his most recent tape. He is everything you want in a safety from a size, speed, transition, and tackling production standpoint. But you put on the tape and he appears to lack instincts and eye discipline, takes poor pursuit angles, doesn’t have a lot of on-the-ball production, and doesn’t have the explosive strike upon contact one would expect for a player with his measurables. He does have a wealth of starting experience for Northwestern, has a good makeup (leader, team captain), and is a high motor player, but you just wonder if his tunnel vision and questionable instincts make this guy more of a long-term special teams ace than a developmental starter.

Vince Mayle

Above average athlete with very good size. More quick than fast. Not as slow as his 4.71 40 speed but not a burner. Good route runner with good ability to drop his weight and get in/out breaks. Hands are inconsistent; he has a wide catch radius but he has some concentration drops. Not to underscore his receiving ability, but the distinguishing trait over other receivers in his class is his ability to run block on the perimeter. Not fired up about the guy, but he could grow into a contributing No. 3 WR due to his overall makeup, work ethic, and limited play experience at the position (developmental upside).

Charles Gaines

Fluid athlete with good burst, body coordination, and speed downfield. You can see his 4.45 speed but he is slow to transition and gets stuck in his pedal at times due to questionable instincts, eye discipline, and route recognition. Raw. More athlete than football player at this point but he’s a better athlete than some starters right now. Classic mid-to-late round developmental prospect. He will compete on special teams in the meantime but may cause some headaches due to his smaller frame and inconsistent tackling ability.

Malcolm Johnson

The Browns added a fullback to the mix – one who is a better athlete than previous fullbacks Ray Agnew and Kiero Small and provides better perimeter blocking and pass catching ability. He is not a thumper and iso/lead runs are not his strength, but he does provide value in a zone scheme. If this guy makes the roster, he could potentially have some upside on special teams due to his decent size and good timed speed (4.68).

Randall Telfer

Teams may have been scared off by this player because he arrived injured (left foot surgery in February 2015). This is a player who offers upside as an attached Y-TE as he is in the minority of modern-day tight ends who is a very willing run blocker; he has above average strength and really works hard to latch on, drive his feet, and sustain his block through the whistle. He will get beat at times and is not a premium athlete, but his size, play temperament, and toughness will give him some value on special teams going forward. He will certainly push Jim Dray and Gary Barnidge during training camp and the preseason.

Hayes Pullard

This young man sent an open letter to all NFL teams explaining why they should draft him. Some say it’s a smart move for a late round prospect to distinguish himself from the rest of the pack while others believe it’s act of desperation. In my experience it certainly does not work for a player without any talent (sorry WFNY readers), but this guy could have easily been an undrafted free agent, so maybe that letter made the small positive difference it needed to. He has the right make-up and play personality to project to a special teams contributor but has limited athletic upside at linebacker.

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu

Very good college player. He is everything you want in terms of ability to mirror routes, instincts, ability to play with his back to the ball, and burst to close in man coverage. Major deficiency before he got injured was his strength and size which causes him to fall off of tackles and get out-positioned vs. larger WR’s. Buster Skrine had this issue for a little while but Buster is a better athlete than this kid at full health. He was never going to be a first round pick as was pumped up in media circles for the past few years, but projects to be a solid slot corner in the league. Unsure of where he’ll play now but best of luck on his recovery – he sounds like a very good kid by all accounts.

Summary

The Browns addressed needs on their offensive and defensive fronts but mostly ignored the two biggest glaring deficiencies on the roster: QB and WR. This draft would have been a good opportunity to make a splash by trading pick(s) for a veteran or a rookie quarterback – not last year – but it appears as if they took the best player available on their board for each of their picks.

The mid-round picks will make or break this draft class. Vastly different league-wide opinions regarding players like Cooper, Cambpell, Mayle, and Gaines means they are all risks, but the two first round picks are low-risk, plug-and-play starters, which is a refreshing change from last year.

Overall grade – B-minus