Browns roster needs an infusion of talent, including with Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, but lower those hopes
The Cleveland Browns seven-man NFL draft class sits at six currently, with RB Quinshon Judkins unsigned and things up in the air after his domestic violence charge in Florida. QBs Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders continue to compete for the starting quarterback job, despite an injury impacting that on Saturday. DT Mason Graham might be the least talked-about top-five pick in Browns history, while LB Carson Schwesinger has a lot on his plate.
RB Dylan Sampson might have a much bigger role given the Judkins situation, while TE Harold Fannin Jr. could form a high-quality duo at the position with David Njoku.
Expecting a lot from any rookie is a fool's errand, however. We all remember when a first-year player like WR Puka Nacua has an amazing season, but, on average, most rookies are highly limited in their first season. The transition from college ball to the NFL is tough, both in the amount of information involved as well as the grind of a 17-game season with more physicality.
It is why seasons like Nacua’s are exceptions, not the rule. In fact, very few rookies even get a chance to make an impact on the field recently:
In general, players seem to take a big leap going into their second season, but their initial one tends to be far more limited.
For each of Cleveland’s NFL draft picks, you can see reasons for both hope and caution in creating expectations:
What are your expectations for the Browns rookie class? Who do you think is most productive of the group this year? Are you surprised by the recent NFL draft data posted above?
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