Photo by Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

Grading the Browns 2017 draft class

BEREA, Ohio – The Browns made 10 picks in the 2017 NFL Draft. That includes the No. 1 overall pick, three first-round picks and five in the first three rounds.

While the Browns didn’t have 14 picks like in 2016, this year’s draft was more front-loaded. Last year, nine of the Browns’ 14 picks came after the third round.

The Browns drafted consensus No. 1 pick Myles Garrett first overall, addressed a need at safety and punt returner with first-rounder Jabrill Peppers, and even drafted a quarterback – DeShone Kizer – in the third round.

You saw the headline so you know we’re going to ask you to grade this year’s Browns draft class. But we’re not asking you to grade it on potential or the careers you think the players might have. That’s unrealistic.

So instead, let’s grade this Browns draft on how the team addressed needs and considering what it took to get the players it wanted. Below is a recap of this year’s draft class. Below that is your chance to vote.

- By Scott Patsko, cleveland.com

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Myles Garrett, Texas A&M, DE

First Round, No. 1 overall

The Browns suffered through a 1-15 season to earn the No. 1 pick in the draft, but the reward was the consensus No. 1 in Garrett. He fills a big need at defensive end and should be a big boost for the Browns' pass rush, which was 30th in the NFL last season with 26 sacks. Garrett had 32.5 sacks over the last three seasons.

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Jabrill Peppers, Michigan, S

First Round, No. 25 overall

The Browns traded out of the No. 12 spot (gaining a 2018 first-round pick in the deal) and moved back 13 spots to take Peppers, who is expected to play safety, return punts and get opportunities on offense.

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David Njoku, Miami, TE

First Round, No. 29 overall

Njoku was considered by most draft analysts as the second-best tight end in the draft. The Browns had to trade the No. 33 overall pick and a fourth-rounder to move up to get him.

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DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame, QB

Second Round, No. 52 overall

Kizer comes with a pick the Browns acquired in a 2016 draft-day trade with the Titans. The Browns say the Toledo native to get a chance to compete for the starting spot in training camp.

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Larry Ogunjobi, UNC-Charlotte, DL

Third Round, No. 65 overall

The muscular 300-pound defensive tackle is an impressive sight, and he left UNC-Charlotte as the school’s all-time leader in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and QB hurries.

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Howard Wilson, Houston, CB

Fourth Round, No. 126 overall

The Browns traded away two fourth-round picks earlier in the draft and gave up a pair of fifth-rounders to get back in and take Wilson with the 126th overall pick. He had five interceptions and 10 passes defensed last season.

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Roderick Johnson, Florida State, OL

Fifth Round, No. 160 overall

The Browns trade up 21 spots in the fifth round to take Johnson, a left tackle. Along with swapping fifth-rounders, the Browns gave the Jets a seventh-round pick for a sixth-rounder. When Cameron Erving moved from tackle to center at Florida State, Johnson replaced him at left tackle.

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Caleb Brantley, Florida, DT

Sixth Round, No. 185 overall

Brantley was projected to go in the first few rounds before he was charged with misdemeanor battery on April 13. He had 31 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last season.

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Zane Gonzalez, Arizona State, K

Seventh Round, No. 224 overall

Gonzalez is the all-time FBS career leader for made field goals (96). He finished his college career with six FBS records, the most ever for a kicker. He’s the first kicker drafted by the Browns since 1989.

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Matthew Dayes, NC State, RB

Seventh Round, No. 252 overall

Dayes was the second-to-last player drafted. The pick was acquired in an earlier trade with the Broncos. Dayes rushed for 1,166 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

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<a href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/9735754/">What's your grade for the Browns 2017 draft class?</a>

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