Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns have been dealing with extremes this summer when it comes to their rookie class.
In the fun category is quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who has been the talk of the NFL since his promising start on Friday night against the Carolina Panthers. That outing moved Sanders up the depth chart for today’s practice, and it is going to be interesting to see how he does later this week during joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles – a major step up from the Panthers – and in Saturday’s preseason game against the Eagles.
In the disappointing category is running back Quinshon Judkins, who remains away from the team and unsigned while dealing with a domestic violence charge in Florida. No one knows if/when Judkins will return, and the lone bright spot is that the Browns can’t miss what they never had.
Falling in the middle is the rest of the draft class, which also got its first taste of the NFL against the Panthers.
While linebacker Carson Schwesinger (six tackles on just 13 defensive snaps) grabbed some of the headline scraps left over from the Sanders’ coverage, defensive tackle Mason Graham, the team’s actual first-round selection, had a nice night while also playing just 13 defensive snaps.
It is all part of his transformation to the pro game, which includes reshaping his body, as Graham explained during a media session on Monday:
“(The first game) went all right. I just feel like I need to work on some stuff, like my double team rushes and keeping my pad level down in the run game. I’ve dropped 10 pounds of fat and gained three pounds of muscle … so I’m getting closer and closer to where I want to be. I’ve leaned out, so now the biggest goal is building more strength.” – Cleveland defensive tackle Mason Graham
Graham has yet to line up with defensive end Myles Garrett on the field. Garrett is always the main focus of the opposing offensive line, so that will leave Graham with plenty of one-on-one opportunities once the season begins.
And if he can continue to improve and take advantage of those situations when it starts to matter next month, Sanders is not the only rookie who will be generating headlines in Cleveland.
