Browns 2023 draft picks - profiles by Dane Brugler

[LondonBrown]

8. CEDRIC TILLMAN | Tennessee 6033 | 213 lbs. | 5SR Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman) 4/19/2000 (age 23.02) #4

BACKGROUND: Cedric Tillman, who is the middle child of three children, grew up in the Las Vegas suburbs and started playing flag football at age 6. He played in the 
Nevada Youth League and fell in love with football, following in the footsteps of his father and older brother. He attended football powerhouse Bishop Gorman High 
School, where he was teammates with top recruits like tight end Brevin Jordan (Miami), wide receiver Jalen Nailor (Michigan State), defensive tackle Haskell Garrett 
(Ohio State) and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA). After waiting his turn as a freshman and sophomore, Tillman recorded eight catches for 73 yards 
and two touchdowns as a junior as Bishop Gorman completed an undefeated 15-0 season. Catching passes from Thompson-Robinson, Tillman had a breakout senior 
season with 37 receptions for 774 yards and seven touchdowns, earning second team All-State honors and helping Bishop Gorman to the 2017 state championship. 
Tillman joined the track team as a senior and was a member of the 4x200 relay team (1:27.19) and participated in the long jump (20 feet 8 inches), high jump (5-10) 
and triple jump (43-1.25).

A three-star recruit, Tillman was the No. 246 wide receiver in the 2018 recruiting class and the No. 11 recruit in Nevada. Despite playing at a program known for 
producing high-level recruits, he went overlooked by college teams. Tillman initially received offers from Hawaii and UNLV, although neither made him a top priority. 
His talent was noticed by former USC head coach Clay Helton, who didn’t have a spot for him in the Trojans’ 2018 recruiting class, but he tipped off his brother, Tyson 
Helton, who was then the offensive coordinator at Tennessee. When the Volunteers had a spot open late, they offered Tillman a scholarship days before national 
signing day. Tillman was ranked as the 19th-best recruit (out of 22 players) in the 2018 Tennessee class. His father (Cedric) caught passes from Steve McNair at Alcorn 
State (1988-91) and was picked in the 11th round (No. 305 overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He went on to play four seasons in the league. His 
older brother (Jamir) was a wide receiver at Navy (2013-16) and considered an NFL prospect but was unable to play professionally because of his military 
commitment (Cedric wears No. 4 jersey because that was his brother’s number). His younger sister (Janai) is a rising junior volleyball player at College of Southern 
Nevada. Tillman graduated with his degree in communication studies (December 2021). He opted out of the 2022 bowl game and declined his invitation to the 2023 
Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Big, sturdy athlete with above-average length … uses his frame to shield and secure catches … strong, well-timed hands (only five career drops) … has 
the body control to make adjustments downfield and the catch radius to attack throws away from his body … physical demeanor vs. press and won’t get bullied off 
his route path … runs with the build-up acceleration to get on top of cornerbacks vertically … tracks the deep ball well (16 receptions of 25-plus yards over the past 
two seasons) … can make the first man miss on screens … has the body and play strength to knock back and beat up corners as a blocker … caught a touchdown in 
nine of his final 13 games at Tennessee.

WEAKNESSES: Inefficient at the top of routes and must tighten up his footwork/body movements … has work-back instincts underneath, but his sink-and-react is 
predictable … ran a rudimentary route tree in the Tennessee offense and must develop a more detailed approach to it … tends to lose his speed downfield and lacks a 
top gear … not elusive and averaged only 2.9 YAC per reception in 2022 … his success rate in contested situations tends to be hit or miss … only lined up on the right 
side of the formation … missed four games as a senior because of a left ankle injury (September 2022), which required tightrope surgery; also missed an additional 
two games (to rest his ankle).

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Tennessee, Tillman was an outside receiver in head coach Josh Heupel’s up-tempo, spread offense, lining up exclusively on the right 
side of the formation. After a breakout junior season, his senior year was marred by an ankle injury, but he still finished top-10 all-time in Tennessee history in 
touchdown catches (17) and holds the school record for consecutive games (seven) with a touchdown grab. Tillman has above-average hands with the catching range 
and body type to be effective on slants/stops/comebacks or when tracking downfield. He can open his stride and maintain his acceleration through the stem but lacks 
the short-area quickness or detailed urgency to easily create separation. Overall, Tillman might be limited to a linear route tree, but he is a big target with the 
acceleration, play strength and ball skills to exploit perimeter matchups. He has NFL starting traits as an X and should develop into a solid No. 2/3.

GRADE: 2nd-3rd Round (No. 57 overall)

[LondonBrown]

8. SIAKI IKA | Baylor 6027 | 335 lbs. | 4JR Salt Lake City, Utah (East) 11/8/2000 (age 22.47) #62

BACKGROUND: Siaki (See-AH-key) “Apu” (AH-poo) Ika (EE-kuh), who is the youngest of five children, grew up in a Polynesian family in Salt Lake City to parents 
(Falakesi Kiola and Selu Loiola) who migrated from the Tongan islands in the South Pacific. Following in the footsteps of his three older brothers, Ika started playing 
basketball and football in elementary school and played through middle school. He attended East High School where he played both ways on the offensive and defensive lines. After spending his first two years as a part-time player, Ika became a starter as a junior and posted 128 tackles, 15 sacks, one forced fumble and a 
blocked kick, leading East to the 2017 Class 4A state championship game (Ika sang the national anthem before the title game). As a senior, he finished with 89 tackles 
and 14 sacks, earning All-American honors. Ika also lettered in basketball at East. 

A four-star recruit out of high school, Ika was the No. 13 defensive tackle in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 2 recruit in Utah (behind WR Puka Nacua). Growing 
up in a BYU family, he attended Cougars’ games throughout his childhood and had a relationship with head coach Kalani Sitake going back to his pee-wee days. When 
BYU offered him a scholarship as a freshman in high school, Ika jumped at the opportunity and committed. However, he decided to reopen his recruitment after his 
junior season once more schools showed interest. Ika had a final five of Florida, LSU, Oregon, USC and Utah and committed to the Tigers and enrolled in January 
2019. He played in 13 games as a true freshman at LSU and helped the program win the 2019 national championship. Ika played in four games in 2020 before 
entering his name into the transfer portal in October 2020. Two months later, he signed with Baylor and rejoined Dave Aranda, who left LSU after the 2019 season to 
become Baylor’s head coach. His nickname “Apu” came from his older sister, who thought he resembled the monkey “Abu” from the movie “Aladdin” when Siaki was 
a baby. Ika opted out of the 2022 bowl game and elected to skip his senior season to enter the 2023 NFL Draft. He accepted his invitation to play in the 2023 Senior 
Bowl, but later pulled out.
 

STRENGTHS: Thick, wide-hipped frame and comfortably carries his 335 pounds … rare quickness, body control and lateral flow for his size … shoots his hands at the 
snap to get movement and reset the line of scrimmage … uses his length and hand strength to stack, lock out and play peek-a-boo to track backfield action … violent 
hands to shuck single blocks and bully his way through the shoulder … his go-to as a rusher is an arm-over power move … anchors versus double teams … voted a 
team captain in 2022 … gives consistent hustle and logged 36.8 defensive snaps per game over his two seasons in Waco.

WEAKNESSES: His backfield production plummeted in 2022 … inconsistent snap anticipation … bends well when he wants, but too willing to stand up and play upright 
at the snap … can be caved by angle blocks when he doesn’t sink and secure his outside leg … can get himself buried when he overextends his upper half and 
sacrifices his balance … his missed tackle rate increased in 2022 … barrels to the ball, but needs to use better control to finish tackles in confined spaces … suspended 
one game for an “off-field incident” (September 2021) … needs to stay conditioned and keep his weight under control (was 12 pounds heavier at his pro day 
compared to the scouting combine). 

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Baylor, Ika lined up at nose tackle in head coach Dave Aranda’s hybrid 3-3-5 base scheme, playing multiple techniques (1, 2i, 3) on 
the interior. After winning a national championship at LSU as a freshman, he followed Aranda to Baylor and earned All-Big 12 honors each of the last two seasons. Ika 
plays with the power, awareness and joint flexibility to press blockers off his frame and find the football versus the run. For a player his size, he is light-footed with 
the short-area explosiveness and hand usage to defeat blocks, however, his best flashes can be found on the 2021 tape and he struggled to make backfield plays in 
2022 (partly because of his role). Ika is a nimble, disruptive big man with stout, powerful traits, but all of his impressive parts don’t consistently add up to impact 
plays. He is a toolsy size prospect with a high floor as an early down NFL nose while also flashing the ability to be more. 

GRADE: 2nd-3rd Round (No. 71 overall)

[LondonBrown]

6. DAWAND JONES | Ohio State 6082 | 374 lbs. | 4SR Indianapolis, Ind. (Ben Davis) 8/6/2001 (age 21.73) #79

BACKGROUND: Dawand Jones, who is an only child, was born and raised in Indianapolis. Basketball was his first love since the age of 5. He attended Ben Davis High School where he focused on basketball and dabbled in football. Jones started playing varsity football as a junior in 2017 and played left and right tackle. He helped Ben Davis to a 14-0 season and won the 6A state title. As a senior, Jones started to blossom on the football field, primarily as the starting right tackle. Still, basketball was his main focus in high school. As a junior, Jones averaged 13.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, helping his team to a 21-win season and a deep run in the playoffs. He improved his numbers to 17.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game as a senior and helped Ben Davis reach the Class 4A state final. Jones was selected to play for the Indiana All-Stars basketball squad and helped sweep the Kentucky All-Stars in June 2019.

A three-star recruit, Jones was the No. 86 offensive tackle in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 13 recruit in Indiana. He always saw himself as more of a basketball recruit and received scholarship offers from several Division I programs including Ball State, Bowling Green and Cleveland State. At the start of his senior year, Jones was ready to commit to Kent State to play basketball, but his coaches encouraged him to be patient because they believed football offers would soon arrive. During the season, Mississippi State was his first big offer followed by several national powers like Florida State and Michigan. He considered signing with USC during the early signing period in December 2018, but decided to wait until signing day in February. Jones had a final five of Florida, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State and USC and ended up picking the Buckeyes. Among the 17 recruits in Ohio State’s 2019 class, Jones was the lowest ranked. He accepted his invitation to the 2023 Senior Bowl but missed most of the week with an injury.

STRENGTHS: Extraordinary frame and mass with the wingspan of a Boeing 747 … his initial movements at the snap are well timed and repeatable … smooth mover for his size … doesn’t have rangy feet, but he compensates with his wide body and mile-long arms to reposition/outposition rushers … uses full extension to escort rushers wide of the pocket … he loves to snatch and bury defenders who try to rush down his middle … his pass-blocking balance looks much improved from his 2021 tape … doesn’t allow his length to go to waste in the run game … engulfs in the run game and drives defenders where he wants with his mauling hands … was always a basketball player first, and it has taken time for him to fully dedicate himself to football, but the Ohio State coaches say his energy improved each year … Wisconsin pass rusher Nick Herbig called Jones the best blocker he faced (Herbig: “That guy is a monster.”) … has clear upside with his age (young for a fourth-year senior) and background as a basketball-first athlete who has now embraced football.

WEAKNESSES: High cut and sets tall, which leads to leverage breakdowns … ends up on the ground when he overextends and needs to shed the bad habits … gets in his own head and is late to anticipate/counter inside moves, allowing rushers to attack his inside half … tries to get a head start in pass pro, and his sheer size makes it easier for officials to spot when he leaves early (five false starts in 2022) … grabby hands … occasionally leans on blocks in the run game instead of controlling them … would like to see more “nasty” to his finish … his discipline is a work in progress (16 total penalties the last two seasons as a starter) … managing his weight and body composition will be imperative in the NFL (refused to weigh in at the Ohio State pro day) … NFL scouts grade him as a scheme-specific right tackle only. 

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Ohio State, Jones lined up at right tackle in head coach Ryan Day’s zone/RPO-based offense. Although it took time for his mentality to change from “I’m a basketball player” to “I’m a football player,” he showed improvements each year in Columbus, including an All-American senior season in which he didn’t allow a single sack. As a run blocker, Jones flashes the heavy hands to steer and create movement and uses his natural size to cave in defenders on down blocks. As a pass blocker, he is effective when he can quick-set, eliminate space and get his hands on his target before they get into their rush, but covering up inside on wide-nine NFL speed is a different animal. Overall, Jones needs continued refinement with his decision-making and reaction skills, but he is a masher in the run game and his rare size/length and improved balance in pass pro have him on the trajectory to be an NFL starter. He will be valued higher by NFL teams that covet size and run blocking at right tackle.

GRADE: 2nd Round (No. 62 overall

[LondonBrown]

15. ISAIAH MCGUIRE | Missouri 6043 | 268 lbs. | 4SR Tulsa, Okla. (Union) 7/27/2001 (age 21.75) #9

BACKGROUND: Isaiah McGuire grew up in the Tulsa area with his mother (Faith Shannon) and started playing football at the youth level. He is close with his father (Tarrick), who played tight end at Oklahoma State (1997-2000) and is now the Assistant Police Chief in Arlington, Texas. McGuire enrolled at Union High School, where he was a four-year letterman on varsity as a defensive end, although he wasn’t a full-time starter as an underclassman. As a senior, he led Union to the 2018 district championship and the Class 6A state semifinal game. McGuire finished with 6.0 sacks and was named an All-District performer. He also lettered in track at Union and set personal bests in the outdoor shot put (49 feet 9 inches) and indoor shot put (47-8).

A three-star recruit, McGuire was the No. 81 strongside defensive end in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 15 recruit in Oklahoma. Somewhat of a late bloomer, he started to receive recruiting attention after attending camps the summer before his senior year and picked up FCS offers from Abilene Christian, Missouri State and Western Illinois. His hometown Tulsa joined the mixed, followed by Missouri. McGuire visited other schools, including Alabama and Oklahoma State (his parents’ alma mater), but Missouri was his only Power 5 offer, and he signed with the Tigers. He ranked No. 17 in Missouri’s 22-player recruiting class in 2019. McGuire opted out of the 2022 bowl game and accepted his invitation to the 2023 Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Physically impressive with a long-armed, moldable frame and comfortably carries his weight … stout at the point of attack with lateral range in the run game … uses his arm length to quickly play off blocks and find the ball … slams his physical hands into the chest of blockers as a pass rusher to force his way into the pocket (see: his matchup versus Broderick Jones on the 2022 Georgia tape) … unleashes a violent rip-chop move and shows the ability to grab and dispose of blocker’s wrists to access rush lanes … shows enough dip at the top of his rush to tighten his cornering angles and force holding calls … speed is average but displays enough juice to track down ball carriers from the backside or in pursuit … heavy tackler … voted a senior captain and young for his class … productive in the backfield (31.0 TFL in 35 games the last three seasons).

WEAKNESSES: Not a sudden rusher and won’t beat blockers with his get-off and speed alone … NFL blockers will catch on to his predictable rush plan … needs to be more consistent with his setup and move timing to maximize execution … pad level gets high, leaving him exposed to down blocks and washouts … late to anticipate side-angled blocks that seal him inside … stack and shed can get too methodical at times … saw more drop-and-cover reps in 2022, but this area isn’t yet a strength to his game … expected better sack/pressure production based on his talent … didn’t bench during the draft process because of his right shoulder.

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Missouri, McGuire was a hand-on-the-ground defensive end in defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s 4-2-5 base scheme, although he also reduced inside at times. He led the Tigers in sacks as a junior and senior and planted his flag as one of the best all-around defensive ends in the SEC with his 2022 season. McGuire is stout at the point of attack with the long arms and lateral quickness to defend multiple gaps. Although he isn’t sudden as a pass rusher, he has strong strides and body flexibility to wrap the outside shoulder of offensive tackles or create forceful knockback with his bull rush. Overall, McGuire needs further polishing to truly maximize his skill set, but he is long, agile and powerful enough to effectively leverage blockers and disrupt both the run and the pass. He is a scheme-diverse prospect and projects as a future NFL starter.

GRADE: 3rd-4th Round (No. 94 overall)

[LondonBrown]

12. DORIAN THOMPSON-ROBINSON | UCLA 6015 | 203 lbs. | 5SR Las Vegas, Nev. (Gorman) 11/14/1999 (age 23.45) #1

BACKGROUND: Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the middle child of three, was born in Columbia, S.C. while his mother (Marva), a college professor and administrator, was working on her doctorate at South Carolina. They then lived in Tallahassee before moving to Las Vegas, and Thompson-Robinson started playing football at age 7. He attended Bishop Gorman High School, a private Catholic school and football powerhouse, and likely would have started as a freshman at most other schools. However, he was stuck behind Tate Martell, who signed with Ohio State, on the quarterback depth chart. He was relegated to backup duties his first three years of high school while also seeing some time at wide receiver (eight receiving touchdowns). As a senior, Thompson-Robinson became the starter and completed 68.8 percent of his passes (176-for-256) for 3,275 yards and 38-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He added seven rushing touchdowns. He was named an Under Armour All-American and led Bishop Gorman to a 13-win season and the 2017 state championship.

A four-star recruit, Thompson-Robinson was the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the 2018 recruiting class (behind Justin Fields) and the No. 3 recruit in Nevada (behind his high school teammates Palaie Gaoteote IV and Brevin Jordan). Despite attempting just 48 passes over his first three high school seasons, he shined at recruiting camps and picked up several notable offers before he became a starter, including from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, UCLA and Utah. His final decision came down to Michigan (his mother’s alma mater) and UCLA, and he committed to the head coach Jim Mora Jr. and the Bruins in April 2017. Despite a coaching change at UCLA midway through the 2017 season, Thompson-Robinson stayed committed to the Bruins and new head coach Chip Kelly, becoming the top-ranked recruit in UCLA’s 2018 class. He took advantage of the extra year of eligibility and returned to the program for a fifth season in 2022. During the pandemic, he trained with his older brother (Christopher), who is a professional MMA fighter. Thompson-Robinson graduated with his degree (December 2022). He accepted his invitation to the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Quick, twitchy release, regardless if he is stationary or on the move … above-average arm strength and spins lasers with proper weight transfer … 
naturally accurate in the short-to-intermediate game … displays playmaking instincts with his legs and arm … terrific skill as a runner and shows a timely 
understanding for when to keep passing plays alive or take off as a ball carrier … has elusive qualities once he reaches the open field and is a true dual-threat (one of 
only two FBS quarterbacks with 25-plus passing touchdowns and 11-plus rushing touchdowns in 2022) … boasts the toughness, both physical and mental, to power 
through adversity (head coach Chip Kelly: “He’s the toughest kid I’ve ever been around.”) … plays through minor injuries and set the UCLA record for quarterback 
starts (48), finishing with a winning record (25-23) as a starter. 

WEAKNESSES: Slight frame, thin torso and lacks ideal body mass … gets tunnel vision as a passer and doesn’t see all 11 defenders on the field … plays frenetic in the 
pocket and will lose his bearings … more comfortable escaping the pocket instead of climbing/sliding … guilty of unnecessarily speeding up his process and dropping 
his eyes too quickly … confused footwork creates uneven platforms, making throws more difficult than they should be … puts too much air on his deep balls with 
inconsistent downfield placement … his ball security must improve (10 fumbles in 2022, 39 fumbles in his career) … despite staying on the field in college, his body 
type will lead to durability concerns with teams; missed one game as a sophomore because of a leg injury (September 2019); missed one game after injuring the 
thumb on his throwing hand (November 2021). 

SUMMARY: A five-year starter at UCLA, Thompson-Robinson showed steady improvements each season in Chip Kelly’s balanced offensive attack and had his best 
season as a “super senior” with a school-record 69.6 percent completions. He departs Westwood as the school’s all-time leader in several categories, including total 
offense (12,537), completions (860), touchdown passes (88) and total touchdowns (116). With his live, accurate arm, the ball spins clean off his hand and his dualthreat skills allow him to create off-schedule plays. Thompson-Robinson handled quite a bit in Kelly’s offense (checks at the line, multiple play options based on presnap reads, etc.), but he is still prone to youthful mistakes, especially when things get hectic. Overall, Thompson-Robinson plays panicked at times and must take 
better care of the football, but he has an NFL-quality arm with the toughness and ability to create that will appeal to pro teams. His veteran presence will help him 
compete for a backup role very early in his NFL career.

GRADE: 6th-7th Round

 

[LondonBrown]

13. CAMERON MITCHELL | Northwestern 5106 | 191 lbs. | 4JR Bolingbrook, Ill. (Bolingbrook) 9/8/2001 (age 21.64) #2

BACKGROUND: Cameron “Cam” Mitchell, who is the middle child of three (older sister and younger sister), was born in Chicago and grew up in the suburb of Bolingbrook. He started playing football at age 5 and was mostly a WildDawg quarterback throughout the youth levels. Mitchell also played soccer, baseball and basketball growing up, but was football-only once he got to high school. He enrolled at Bolingbrook High School, where he was a four-year starter on varsity at cornerback (played only on defense). Mitchell was named a team captain and All-Conference his junior and senior years while also earning All-Area and All-State in his final season. He finished his prep career with five interceptions. A three-star recruit, Mitchell was the No. 106 cornerback in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 22 recruit in Illinois. After his sophomore season, he picked up a pair of MAC offers (Bowling Green and Northern Illinois) followed by Northwestern. Mitchell flirted with nearby schools like Minnesota, Notre Dame and Wisconsin, but Northwestern was his only Power 5 offer, and he committed prior to his senior year. Mitchell, Adetomiwa Adebawore and Evan Hull were three of the Wildcats’ lowest recruits in the 2019 class. He followed in the footsteps of his close friend and former Northwestern cornerback Greg Newsome, whom he has known since he was 11. Cameron’s father (Deon) was a running back, wide receiver and return man at Northern Illinois (1994-98) and accounted for 4,732 career all-purpose yards. Mitchell elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2023 NFL Draft

STRENGTHS: Plays with enough size, speed and length to stay in phase … footwork stays controlled and on top of routes to contest stop/comeback routes … solid technician with athletic transitional skill out of his breaks … anticipatory and feels route combinations around him (comfortable with two-to-one reads) … shows excellent timing once he locates the football to gracefully disrupt passing windows without going through receivers … physically competitive in press and downfield, and receivers know they are in for a dogfight … quick to support the run and stays loose in his breakdown to finish in space (11 tackles on 2022 Penn State tape) … called for only two coverage penalties in 2022 … productive on special teams (seven career tackles) and well-schooled to be a core teams guy … has the skill set to play inside or outside.

WEAKNESSES: Lacks recovery burst, giving skilled receivers a chance to create separation when caught on his heels … can be fooled by initial route movements, and excitement to attack passing lanes will draw him out of position … only two career interceptions and left a few others on the field … enthusiastic, physical hands to connect in press, but needs to break that contact post-release (see 81-yard catch allowed on 2022 Duke tape) … can be covered up by perimeter blocks and needs to improve his hand use to gain his freedom … improved tackling technique will help compensate for his average size and play strength against downhill runners.

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Northwestern, Mitchell played boundary cornerback in former defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil’s base Cover 4 scheme. When his close friend, Greg Newsome, was banged up late in the 2020 season, he stepped into his role and quickly developed into one of the team’s best defensive players. A smooth, competitive corner, Mitchell has athletic footwork with the play strength and coverage timing to disrupt passing windows (he just needs to pull down more interceptions). Though he is fearless jumping plays, NFL quarterbacks will look to expose his greedy tendencies and catch him out of position. Overall, Mitchell needs to continue and develop his eye discipline to better match up with NFL receivers, but his athleticism, aggressiveness and smarts give him the scheme-versatility that NFL teams desire. He will be ready to compete for NFL starting reps as a rookie.

GRADE: 3rd Round (No. 85 overall

[LondonBrown]

4. LUKE WYPLER | Ohio State 6025 | 303 lbs. | 3JR Montvale, N.J. (St. Joseph Regional) 5/3/2001 (age 21.98) #53

BACKGROUND: Luke Wypler (WHIP-ler), who has four half-siblings, was born and raised in New Jersey and grew up playing multiple sports, including baseball, lacrosse and hockey. However, he started to lean toward football as his go-to sport in middle school. After growing up in central New Jersey with his mom, Wypler moved in with his dad in eastern New Jersey when he was 14 so he could enroll at St. Joseph Regional School, a college preparatory school and one of the top football programs in the state. Wypler earned the starting left tackle job as a sophomore and took home first team All-League and second team All-County honors. As a junior left tackle, he led St. Joseph to a 10-win season and the 2018 state championship. After a wrestling injury in the offseason, Wypler moved from left tackle to right tackle for his senior season and was named first team All-State and a 2019 U.S. Army All-American. He also earned letters in lacrosse and wrestling in high school.

A four-star recruit, Wypler was the No. 2 center in the 2020 recruiting class and the No. 2 recruit in New Jersey. He started to receive FBS offers following his sophomore season, picking up scholarships from Rutgers, Florida, Stanford, Notre Dame, Michigan and Ohio State over a one-month span. With two-dozen offers, Wypler took numerous visits before settling on Ohio State and stayed committed after Urban Meyer’s retirement. He was the second-highest ranked offensive lineman in the Buckeyes’ 2020 recruiting class, behind only Paris Johnson Jr. His father (Al) played linebacker at East Stroudsburg State. After Luke enrolled at Ohio State, Al bought a house in west Columbus that he shares with his son. Luke’s mom (Michele Desimone) is a nurse. His parents are divorced. Wypler elected to skip his final two seasons of eligibility and enter the 2023 NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS: Athletic mover with the first step and joint flexibility to get underneath defenders … executes well laterally to reach or pull … highly efficient on combos and climbs to pass off defensive tackles before reaching the second level … displays patient weight distribution and strong hands to redirect/mirror in his pass sets … his hands stay accessible for quick resets if he gets swiped … adjusts well with gap exchanges and his peripheral vision is an asset … made major strides with his snap/delay penalties between his sophomore and junior seasons … coachable, high-intangible player with the mental capacity for the NFL game (also adds plenty of dry humor) … durable player who started all 26 games the past two seasons.

WEAKNESSES: Short arms and can be flattened out if he doesn’t initiate first contact … struggles to regain leverage against power or long-arm moves … shaky anchor and it will be tougher for him to “lose slowly” versus NFL bull rush … can do a better job rolling his hips to add explosion at contact … doesn’t consistently drive defenders in the run … quick to climb, but inconsistent breakdown in space to lock down linebackers … questionable position flexibility with 100 percent of his snaps coming at center in college.

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Ohio State, Wypler was entrenched at center in head coach Ryan Day’s zone/RPO-based offense. A high school offensive tackle, he made the move inside, where he was the starting center for all 25 of C.J. Stroud’s college starts. (Stroud: “Luke is probably one of the smartest people I have ever been around … the smartest O-lineman I’ve ever met in my life.”) Wypler is a quick, efficient mover with outstanding football IQ and communication skills. However, he labors to sustain if not perfectly square, especially with defenders on his edge, and can be stacked when he isn’t in position to break contact. Overall, Wypler is sawed-off and will be force-fed his vegetables as he adapts to NFL power, but his above-average athleticism and handwork help him stay in position. He is ideally suited for a zone team and projects as an NFL backup with potential to be more.

GRADE: 4th-5th Round

[gumby73]

Good to see the @LondonBrown post draft profiles with Dane...

Right on Schedule LondonBrown ! and Thanks.. considering the small draft capital.. hopes of a future B draft class

Hope all is going well across the ocean chaps !

[ballpeen]

Thanks for the posts!

[Dutch Oven]

9 hours ago, gumby73 said:

Good to see the @LondonBrown post draft profiles with Dane...

Right on Schedule LondonBrown ! and Thanks.. considering the small draft capital.. hopes of a future B draft class

Hope all is going well across the ocean chaps !

Unless I'm confusing him with someone else, I swear the last time I talked to him he was talking about moving to New Jersey and I was giving him pizzeria suggestions?

Is this right @LondonBrown?

[Orion]

8 hours ago, ballpeen said:

Thanks for the posts!

Yes!

According to London....we did pretty well.  

 

13 hours ago, LondonBrown said:

but he has an NFL-quality arm with the toughness and ability to create that will appeal to pro teams.

...and our guys were one of those teams.  They see him as a fit for us.  If he eventually turns out to be the backup to Watson that they've been dreaming of, then the 5th round is a good place to get him.

[LondonBrown]

9 hours ago, Dutch Oven said:

Unless I'm confusing him with someone else, I swear the last time I talked to him he was talking about moving to New Jersey and I was giving him pizzeria suggestions?

Is this right @LondonBrown?

That’s correct mate but I’m back in England now. Much to my dismay!

[LondonBrown]

Now that the UDFA names are coming in......if they are profiled I will add them

[LondonBrown]

18. RONNIE HICKMAN | Ohio State 6004 | 203 lbs. | 4JR South Orange, N.J. (DePaul Catholic) 10/11/2001 (age 21.54) #14

BACKGROUND: Ronnie “Rocket” Hickman Jr., who has four siblings (two brothers on his mom’s side and two sisters on his dad’s side), grew up in South Orange and started playing football and lacrosse at a young age. He played for the Maplewood-South Orange Packers at the pee wee level with his father (Ronnie Sr.) serving as commissioner of the program and his mother (Hanifah Crawley) the president. Hickman enrolled at DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne where he was a two-sport standout in football and lacrosse. A four-year letterman, he saw varsity action as a freshman and played both offense (wide receiver) and defense (safety). After a breakout sophomore season, Hickman led DePaul to an 8-3 record and the 2017 non-public Group 3 state title, finishing his junior year with 44 catches for 809 yards and 10 touchdowns along with 44 tackles, 11 passes defended and two interceptions. In four games as a senior, he posted 26 catches for 609 yards and nine touchdowns with 19 tackles on defense before a knee injury ended his 2018 season. He finished his prep career with 1,418 receiving yards and 22 total touchdowns. A U.S. Army All-American in football, Hickman was also a high school All-American in lacrosse and played at the club level for Building Blocks Lacrosse.

A four-star recruit, Hickman was the No. 10 safety in the 2019 class and the No. 3 recruit in New Jersey. His first scholarship offer came from Rutgers to play lacrosse, and he committed as a freshman. However, Hickman realized football was his better long-term sport, especially once he started to receive several high-profile offers. He narrowed down his final six to Florida, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers and Virginia Tech. He grew up a Buckeyes fan, so there was no surprise when he committed to Ohio State in April 2018. Because of his torn ACL as a senior, Hickman was forced to redshirt in 2019 as he rehabbed. When he was a toddler, he was given the “Rocket” nickname by his father because of the way he would try to take off and run when he was crawling. Hickman graduated with a degree in human development and family sciences. He elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2023 NFL Draft. Hickman accepted his invitation to the 2023 Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Long, lean-muscled frame … talented linear athlete to pedal, collect himself and drive … didn’t surrender many explosive plays with zero touchdowns allowed in 2022 … attacks the run with fast angles, finding the quickest route from A to B … uses long-striding speed to beat blockers to the point and leverage outside run plays … utilizes wide base and low pads to be a physical tackler … was a regular on kick coverage and punt return duties in 2022 … finished his Buckeyes career with 26 straight starts … experienced in the box, slot and as a single-high defender.

WEAKNESSES: Needs to better use his long levers to fight off blocks for quicker detachments … plays tall and tight-hipped, impeding the acceleration out of transitions versus slot speed … lateral agility will be challenged versus NFL tight ends in isolated matchups … questionable peripheral vision and late to feel route combinations mid-pedal … play recognition tends to be a half beat behind … doesn’t take many chances in coverage … can tweak tackling mechanics to be more reliable and forceful … needs to continue bulking up and would benefit by getting to 210-215 pounds … suffered a torn ACL in his right knee (October 2018) as a senior in high school, forcing him to redshirt at Ohio State; unable to work out at the combine or pro day because of a right hip labrum injury (March 2023).

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Ohio State, Hickman played the “adjuster” safety position in defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ 4-2-5 base scheme. After playing the hybrid “bullet” role as a linebacker/safety in 2021, he transitioned to more of a free safety as a junior, which cut his tackles in half from the previous year, but he led the Buckeyes in passes defended in 2022. Hickman takes sound angles to the ball when his eyes are in position, and his keys help him anticipate the play design. However, his tape does not show a quick-reaction player from depth, and his conservative nature led to ball production left on the field. Overall, Hickman is a long, linear athlete with baseline physical traits, but you wish he saw things a half second sooner and was more aggressive making plays on the ball. He projects as a special-teamer and rotational NFL “robber” safety.

GRADE: 5th-6th Round

[LondonBrown]

21. MOHAMOUD DIABATE | Utah 6034 | 225 lbs. | 4SR Auburn, Ala. (Auburn) 5/18/2001 (age 21.94) #3

BACKGROUND: Mohamoud (mah-mood) Diabate (dee-ah-bah-tay), who has three sisters, was born and raised in Auburn. His parents immigrated to the United States in 1988 from the west African country of Mali and grew up speaking several languages, including Bambara, the national language of Mali. His father (Youssouf) is a professor of agricultural and resource economics at Tuskegee University. Diabate started playing football in the fifth grade and later attended Auburn High School where he was a three-year starter on varsity as a linebacker and defensive end. He played in only four games as a sophomore because of a life-threatening staph infection that put him in the hospital. Diabate returned to the field as a junior and led Auburn to a 10-win season, posting 82 tackles, 20.0 tackles for loss, 10.0 sacks and three blocked kicks to earn first team All-State honors as the Class 7A Lineman of the Year. As a senior, Diabate finished with 35 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks and was named a U.S. Army All-American.

A four-star recruit, Diabate was the No. 6 outside linebacker in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 6 recruit in Alabama (behind wide receiver George Pickens and quarterback Bo Nix). His offer sheet starting to fill up after his sophomore season, starting with Virginia followed by Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. The top programs in the SEC soon followed, and Diabate considered both Alabama and Auburn, but was drawn to the diversity of Gainesville. He is a devout Muslim, and his faith is a central part of his daily life, praying multiple times a day and regularly attending Islamic religious centers. Diabate committed to Florida before his senior season and was the sixth-ranked recruit in the Gators’ 2019 class (behind Kaiir Elam). He enrolled early in January 2019 and played three seasons at Florida. After the 2021 season, Diabate entered the transfer portal because he wanted a “better situation” and chose Utah to fill the shoes of Devin Lloyd. His older sister (Fanta) ran track at UAB (2014-17). Diabate graduated with his degree in sociology (May 2022). He accepted his invitation to the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl. 

STRENGTHS: Long, rangy body type with a large wingspan … runs like a gazelle and attacks in a hurry … straight-line explosive, which is especially evident as a blitzer when he can split gaps or threaten the edges (see 2022 USC tape) … frequently makes run stops at or behind the line of scrimmage thanks to his aggressive nature and speed … loads up behind his pads for thump at contact … isn’t always effective but is more than willing to scrap and press off blocks … versatile experience, playing multiple different positions between his time at Florida and Utah.

WEAKNESSES: Lean-framed and thin-limbed, lacking desired muscle mass … upright and long-legged, hindering his ability to abruptly change directions or adjust his tackling angles … has a tendency to unravel and lose balance when pursuing shifty ball carriers in space … late to sort through blocking combinations as an inside linebacker … raw hand use and can be overwhelmed by climbers … overaggressive in coverage and struggles to maintain tight spacing in man-to-man … doesn’t see through tight ends to the quarterback, and frequently bites on route fakes … lack of career ball production reflects his savvy in coverage … underwent labrum surgery following the 2021 season prior to his transfer to Utah, missing 2022 spring practices.

SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Utah, Diabate played “Mac” linebacker in defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley’s hybrid 4-2-5 scheme. A high school pass rusher, he moved to off-ball linebacker as a sophomore at Florida and took over Devin Lloyd’s role in the Utes’ defense in 2022, leading the team in tackles for loss. With his length and speed, Diabate covers a lot of ground and has intriguing blitzing potential from various alignments. His read-and-react vs. the run is underdeveloped, and he struggles to diagnose route concepts (throws in his direction usually resulted in completions). Overall, Diabate is an aggressive and explosive linear athlete, but the game often moves too fast for him, leaving him out of position vs. the run and the pass. He projects as a developmental run-and-chase defender who will need to earn his roster spot on special teams.

GRADE: 6th-7th Round

[LondonBrown]

33. HASSAN HALL | Georgia Tech 5102 | 196 lbs. | 5SR Atlanta, Ga. (Maynard Jackson) 8/28/2000 (age 22.66)

SUMMARY: Hassan Hall was a standout football and track athlete at Maynard Jackson High, where he placed second at states in the 100 meters (10.63 seconds) as a senior. He played both ways with 728 rushing yards, 98 tackles and three interceptions. A three-star recruit, he committed to Louisville (over Syracuse) but struggled to earn a regular role in the Cardinals’ backfield. He transferred back home for his fifth year and led Georgia Tech in rushing in 2022. Hall averaged 23.5 yards per kick return (110 attempts, 2,581 yards, two touchdowns) in his career. (He didn’t return punts but looked great fielding punts at his pro day). He is a strong-striding athlete with the field speed to destroy pursuit angles. His vision tends to run hot and cold, leading to indecision, but his agility helps him create on the go. Overall, Hall doesn’t have the statistical resume to get you excited, but his home-run speed gives him a chance to earn a roster spot as a returner and reserve.

GRADE: Priority Free Agent

[LondonBrown]

29. TANNER MCCALISTER | Ohio State 5104 | 191 lbs. | 5SR Rockwall, Texas (Heath) 1/27/2000 (age 23.25)

SUMMARY: Tanner McCalister was born in Dallas and was a four-year letterman at Rockwall-Heath High, rushing for 2,443 yards in prep career. He also logged five forced fumbles and four interceptions at cornerback. A three-star recruit, McCalister committed to Arkansas before flipping to Oklahoma State, where he played corner before moving to safety in 2020. For his final season, he followed defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and transferred to Ohio State as a slot safety (and became an extra coach on the field, helping OSU defenders transition to the new scheme). Hyper-alert in coverage, McCalister moves like a former corner with terrific footwork/fluidity to transition from his pedal and defend multiple routes. He strikes with timing and authority but must fine-tune his tackling angles and techniques. Overall, McCalister doesn’t have elite size/speed and is somewhat of a tweener, but NFL coaches will appreciate his instincts, urgency and nose for the football.

GRADE: Priority Free Agent

[LondonBrown]

23. LONNIE PHELPS | Kansas 6023 | 244 lbs. | 4SR Cincinnati, Ohio (Mount Healthy) 8/24/2000 (age 22.68) #47

BACKGROUND: Lonnie Phelps Jr. started playing football at the pee-wee level as a defensive end and continued through middle school. He was mentored by his father (Lonnie Sr.), who helped him develop his pass-rush skills. He enrolled at Mount Healthy High School (same alma mater as Detroit Lions’ running back David Montgomery), where he earned a starting role as a freshman. Phelps earned All-District honors as a sophomore with 46 tackles and a conference-best 9.0 sacks. As a junior, he was named the conference Defensive Player of the Year with 76 tackles, 10.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, three blocked kicks and one interception. Phelps CONTENTS [178] earned first team All-State honors as a senior captain and was named the 2018 District Defensive Player of the Year. He finished his final season with 100 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, 10.0 sacks and four blocked kicks. Phelps also lettered in basketball at Mount Healthy.

A three-star recruit, Phelps was the No. 87 weakside defensive end in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 61 recruit in Ohio. He was underrecruited and didn’t receive many serious looks from FBS programs. Phelps verbally committed to Miami (Ohio) as a junior and finished as the third highest-ranked recruit in the RedHawks’ 2019 class. After three years at Miami, he entered the transfer portal and received an offer from Kansas on the same day. Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold was familiar with Phelps from his time coaching in the MAC (Phelps recorded his first collegiate sack in 2019 against Leipold’s Buffalo). Phelps was also pursued by Virginia Tech and several other programs, but he committed to Kansas and enrolled in January 2022. He accepted his invitation to the 2023 Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Bursts off the ball to race around the arc or fire through the B-gap … attacks the corner with momentum and naturally low pads … cat-like lateral quickness to work inside counters and effectively cross the face of blockers … forces linemen to keep their feet moving, creating opportunities … uses a swift swiperip move to clear the blocker’s outside shoulder … violently chops at the quarterback’s arm once he reaches the pocket (see: strip sack on 2022 Kansas State tape) … blows through arm blocks with his body lean and power … agility helps him secure open-field tackles … high-motor pursuit player and chases runs away from him … plays with enduring toughness … consistent production the last two seasons, at two different programs.

WEAKNESSES: Well-developed muscle tone but undersized with shorter-than-ideal arms … inconsistent versus the run … long-armed blockers will control him once they get into his frame … rush success is more flash than consistency … hands are active but not always purposeful … overeager for contact and would benefit from more finesse in his game … undisciplined tendencies, including seven penalties in 2022 (five offsides, one facemask, one unnecessary roughness) … lack of length puts a dent in his tackling … did more zone dropping after he transferred to Kansas, but it’s still new territory for him … didn’t play on kick or punt teams in 2022.

SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Kansas, Phelps lined up at boundary defensive end in defensive coordinator Brian Borland’s 4-3 base scheme. After three seasons at Miami (Ohio), Phelps looked to challenge himself in a more talented conference and led the Jayhawks in sacks and tackles for loss. Phelps is quick off the ball and rushes with both speed and power, maneuvering his frame to force entry into the backfield from different angles. Though he plays with better physicality than bigger defenders, he needs to adapt more refined hands/timing as both a pass rusher and run defender to stay on the field. Overall, Phelps’ lack of size/length will be a limiting factor for him versus NFL competition, but he is a pesky player to block because of his get-off and menacing energy in pursuit. He projects as a scheme versatile sub-rusher.

GRADE: 4th-5th Round

[LondonBrown]

24. CHARLIE THOMAS | Georgia Tech 6025 | 216 lbs. | 5SR Thomasville, Ga. (Thomasville) 1/31/2000 (age 23.24) #1

BACKGROUND: Charlie Thomas, who is one of four children, grew up in south Georgia and started playing pee wee football at age 6. He attended Thomasville High School and was a four-year varsity letterman, playing on both sides of the ball. Thomas posted 62 tackles and two interceptions as a junior, earning honorable mention All-State honors. As a senior safety, he led Thomasville to an undefeated regular season and the school’s first regional title in a decade, finishing the 2017 season with a 12-1 record. Thomas posted 78 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss and one interception, adding 242 rushing yards, 442 receiving yards and five total touchdowns (three rushing, two receiving) while also seeing snaps at quarterback. He again earned All-State honors and was a U.S. Army All-American. Thomas also lettered in basketball and track and set personal bests in the long jump (14 feet 11 inches) and triple jump (33-9.5).

A three-star recruit, Thomas was the No. 48 safety in the 2018 recruiting class and the No. 67 recruit in Georgia. He picked up offers from Troy and Tulane as a sophomore and then Colorado State, South Alabama and Vanderbilt as a junior. Prior to his senior season, Thomas received several SEC offers, including Auburn, Mississippi State, Missouri and Ole Miss. But the 180-pound defensive back was drawn to Georgia Tech, which offered him as both a safety and wide receiver with the chance to play right away. He was the fifth-highest-ranked recruit in the Jackets’ 2018 class. After initially playing as a defensive back, Thomas moved to linebacker in his first season on campus. He took advantage of the extra year of eligibility because of COVID rules and returned to school for a fifth season. Thomas graduated with his degree in business administration (December 2021) and is pursuing his graduate degree in general studies in history, technology and society. He accepted his invitation to the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Unlocks his hips, trusts his eyes and immediately accelerates … above-average play speed to the perimeter, and covers a lot of green … shows secondary quickness after escaping blockers … has the athleticism to play the cutback by the ball carrier … takes fast angles downhill, and stocked his college tape with plenty of plays at or behind the line of scrimmage … range translates to coverage, including his ability to stay stride-for-stride with backs, tight ends and receivers … feels routes coming and hunts crossers … was asked to wear multiple hats based on personnel, playing a variety of nickel and linebacker alignments … had his best statistical season as a senior.

WEAKNESSES: Thin-framed and looks more like a safety than a linebacker … doesn’t have the growth potential to add much more mass … mediocre play strength and struggles to punch himself off blocks … lack of length and force will be highlighted in the tackle box … too easily knocked off schedule by roadblocks … needs to do a better job settling his feet to square up moving targets as a tackler … accelerator can get stuck in overdrive at times, allowing even slow-footed quarterbacks to shake him … had two targeting penalties in 2022 and needs to be more controlled with his strike zone.

SUMMARY: A five-year starter at Georgia Tech, Thomas played the “Money” linebacker position in defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker’s 4-2-5 base scheme. A high school defensive back, he made the transition to linebacker for the Yellow Jackets and was consistently productive, including a career-year in 2022 with 112 tackles. With his versatile athleticism, Thomas lined up everywhere on tape and showed outstanding short-area burst and acceleration in the open field (confirmed by his 1.55 10-yard split and 4.55 40-yard dash at the Combine). He is a magnet to the football when kept clean but can be too easily knocked off his path and needs to be more controlled as a finisher. Overall, Thomas will have a tough time overcoming his lack of strength, but he is fast-flowing in pursuit, and his play range expands his usefulness. He is a potential special-teamer with development potential as a nickel backer.

GRADE: Priority Free Agent

[LondonBrown]

Phelps has a chance of making the roster for sure!

[ballpeen]

11 hours ago, Orion said:

Yes!

According to London....we did pretty well.  

 

...and our guys were one of those teams.  They see him as a fit for us.  If he eventually turns out to be the backup to Watson that they've been dreaming of, then the 5th round is a good place to get him.

Yep.  Let's face it, even our 1st pick is in a position where things start to get murky, and the odds decrease the guy will become a good player.

[Bob806]

Good stuff, thanks @LondonBrown

 

[Flugel]

8 hours ago, LondonBrown said:

Phelps has a chance of making the roster for sure!

Awesome stuff London!  Thanks!   Glad to see you back in here!!!

[tiamat63]

 I remember when Glen Logan had a couple articles on him and how he might be the "sneaky pick" to make the roster as an UDFA.   

Despite having the worst IDL in all of football, he barely made it to the pre-season dress rehearsal.  

 "Chance" is a strong word and needs to be taken with a serious grain of salt.  Still, I'm looking forward to watching Phelps' reps with Kansas.

[Vambo]

[SdBacker80]

 Buddy of mine is a Ga Tech fan…not many out there…big football guy and he absolutely loved Charlie Thomas believes he makes our roster.

So I watched some clips today.  Very undersized S/LB…but pretty good playmaker for an undrafted guy…we will see.  

[Korsou Dawg]

FWIW: draft value compared to PFN's 'consensus big board.' We didn't win the draft, but came in third, which is more impressive when you consider that we didn't have a first or second rounder. 

Apparently the state of Pennsylvania is good at drafting. Either that, or that consensus big board was a big stinking turd. 

 

[Unsympathetic]

PFF analysis of draft picks

 

Tillman
Tillman was among the few top prospects with prototypical X measurables. He has good size, he is physical and he attacks the football in the air. With the additions of Tillman and the trade for Elijah Moore, Deshaun Watson will have more options in the passing game entering his second season with the team.
Ika
The Browns have made it a priority to improve the interior of their defensive line this offseason, and they continue that with the addition of Ika here. A mountain of a man at 358 pounds, he isn’t just a run defender, registering a 76.4 PFF pass-rushing grade in 2022.
Jones
There were questions about Jones’ conditioning/commitment that likely contributed to his slide down boards, but there’s a lot of reason to bet on Jones’ talent at this stage of the draft. His size and length afford him room for error, and he has enough movement ability at his size to have success as a starter. Jones earned 80-plus PFF grades as the Buckeyes’ starting right tackle in each of the last two seasons.
McGuire
Cleveland adds a good power rusher to complement Myles Garrett. He has NFL size and power with the potential to be a plus run defender. Despite average burst off the edge, he put up an 84.5 true pass-rush grade in 2022.
DTR
Thompson-Robinson is the definition of a “gamer,” a classic football cliche, with the desire to make something out of nothing on seemingly every snap. This can work against him, of course, with a lot of turnover-worthy plays as a result. However, his 77.4% adjusted completion percentage ranked 15th in college football and he offers great rushing ability.
Mitchell
Cleveland adds another Northwestern cornerback on top of 2021 first-rounder Greg Newsome II. Mitchell did well to match wide receivers stride for stride in trail technique in college, and he’s a willing tackler with a 76.0 run-defense grade.
Wypler
Wypler was the 54th-ranked player on the PFF big board, making this one of the better value selections in the draft in our eyes. He earned 79.0-plus PFF grades in each of his seasons as a starter for the Buckeyes, excelling as a zone run blocker (89th percentile over the last two seasons) specifically. Pair that with plus athleticism, and this looks like a steal for Cleveland.

[Dutch Oven]

Do the selections of the Ohio State OLinemen look like a strange pairing?

One is an enormous road grader, the other an athletic center who excels in a zone blocking scheme.

I know they played on the same OLine in college, but they seem like two completely different scheme guys. 

[Canton Dawg]

Good write up by one of my favorite draft analysts Dane Brugler (also a fellow Mount Union Alum).

I was extremely happy when the Browns drafted Wypler….talk about a steal!