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Major Outlet Names Michigan Wolverine As Best NFL Draft Day Two Fit For Browns
The Browns are currently slated to make their first pick of the draft in the second round with the 54th pick.
As things stand right now the Browns are going to be waiting a while to make their first pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
Entering their third consecutive year without a first-round pick after acquiring Deshaun Watson, the Browns are currently slated to be on the clock in the second round at 54 overall. Not having a first rounder makes the margin for error even tighter for Cleveland when it comes to trying to pinpoint players on day two and beyond who can make an impact on the team.
Pro Football Focus produced a list of the top day two fits for all 32 teams and had the Browns addressing a defensive need with their projected selection: Michigan Wolverines linebacker Junior Colson as the best fit for Cleveland the Friday of the draft.
PFF's explanation...
Michiganβs Junior Colson would immediately improve a linebacker group that finished 27th in the
NFL in run-defense grade last season. He isnβt flashy, but he is very fundamentally sound and missed only five tackles during his final season at Michigan. He would complement Jordan Hicks and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah very well until he is ready to prove himself as a starter.
Linebacker is still one of the positions that the Browns could use some additional depth. After losing Anthony Walker Jr. and Sione Takitaki in free agency, the team added Hicks and former Steelers first-round pick Devin Bush to the linebacker room. Adding someone like Colson could give Cleveland a young linebacker to potentially pair with Owusu-Koramoah for the foreseeable future.
During Michigan's championship season this past year Colson led the team in tackles with 95 combined, including 51 of his own. Two of those tackles wound up being for a loss and he also broke up two passes, as he was named second-team All-Big Ten. For his career Colson amassed 256 tackles in three seasons, including 8.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks.
Colson is slated as a second-round pick in many draft projections and player rankings and could very well be available for Cleveland at 54. The Michigan product has been highlighted for his instinctual ability to play the position and diagnose plays. His tape also shows evidence that he's able to hold his own in pass coverage, which is an immensely valuable trait for linebackers to have at the next level.
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