The Cleveland Browns had two selections in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and here is how they made out with picks No. 1 and No. 12.
The distinction of picking first overall in the NFL Draft can be looked at two ways. The first way is that you can get the player you want, without having to worry about someone grabbing them before you can. The other is to feel incredible pressure, as a mistake at the top of the draft can set your franchise back for the next ten years, just ask the Oakland Raiders.
The Cleveland Browns earned the first pick thanks to their 1-15 record last season, which was another year in the cellar of the AFC North. The Browns made a bunch of nice free agent signings this offseason prior to the draft, as they prepared to pick not once, but twice on Thursday night. Cleveland needed to get it right with their two picks in the first round, and with plenty of holes to fill on their roster, they certainly did a nice job doing just that.
Heading into the draft, everyone knew the Browns needed a quarterback. However, Myles Garrett of Texas A&M was seen as the consensus first overall selection. Being the Browns, it was anybody’s guess as to what they would do with the first pick, but they apparently knew their plan early in the day Thursday. When Roger Goodell stepped to the podium to announce the first pick, everyone in Cleveland held their breath.
With their first pick, the Browns selected defensive end Myles Garrett from Texas A&M. Garrett, who many believed would be the first overall selection for the past few months, will join a Browns defense that already features Joe Haden and Jamie Collins. The former Aggie put on an absolute show during the NFL Scouting Combine, and his Pro Day, making this pick an easy one for a team that struggled to get after the quarterback in 2016.
Garrett is an incredible athlete, and many believe he is going to be a double-digit sack guy at the next level. The addition of Garrett makes the Browns defense a legitimate unit in 2017, where they should definitely improve from their 1-15 record in 2016. The Browns do still need a quarterback, and with another pick still ahead in the first round, they may get their man before the night is out.
Next: Cleveland Browns: List of 2017 NFL Draft picks
Once again, the Browns had double-digit picks in the draft, in hopes that they can finally turn the franchise around. Head coach Hue Jackson is certainly talented enough to do so, and Thursday night was a good step in the right direction. Cleveland fans deserve a winner, and for the first time in a long time, it appears management is committed to giving them just that.
First Round Grade: A