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2015 NFL Draft grades: Cleveland Browns select Danny Shelton

By Patrick Schmidt

Jan 2, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Washington Huskies defensive lineman Danny Shelton (55) following the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2015 Cactus Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium. Oklahoma State defeated Washington 30-22. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Washington Huskies defensive lineman Danny Shelton (55) following the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2015 Cactus Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium. Oklahoma State defeated Washington 30-22. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the No. 12 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft the Cleveland Browns drafted Washington nose tackle Danny Shelton.

The Cleveland Browns have been in the headlines all offseason for a variety of reasons. They hold two picks in the first round after trading back in the draft last year so the Buffalo Bills could take Sammy Watkins and the Browns could take Justin Gilbert.

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But the majority of their headlines centered around the other first round pick they took last year in Johnny Manziel who looked overwhelmed as a rookie and spend more than two months in a rehab facility in the offseason. Coupled with his inadequacy on the field, his issues off the field led the Browns to reportedly be interest in packaging their No. 12 and No. 19 picks for a chance to move up and draft Marcus Mariota.

A trade never came to fruition for Cleveland who stayed at No. 12 and drafted massive defensive tackle/nose tackle Danny Shelton out of Washington. Shelton ran a 5.7 40 at the scouting combine in February but at 6-2 and 339 pounds, his speed in the 40 isn’t as important as it is at other positions.

The easy comparison has been Vince Wilfork who is a potential Hall of Famer after starring in the middle of the New England Patriots line for years. And Dontari Poe and Haloti Ngata are decent comparison as well after making 93 tackles for Washington and 16.5 of them going for loss.

He does have the range to make plays down the line and doesn’t need to come off the field on third downs after playing 80 percent of the defensive snaps with the Huskies last year when he had a career-high nine sacks. The Browns are building a solid defense and Shelton adds to that group and should dramatically improve their multiple scheme defense they run in Cleveland.

Now who do you think the Browns take at No. 19?

Grade: A-

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