All the new Browns pre-draft breakdowns by Dane Brugler

[LondonBrown]

3. GREG NEWSOME II | Northwestern 6000 | 192 lbs. | JR. Chicago, Ill. (IMG Academy) 5/18/2000 (age 20.95)

BACKGROUND: Gregory “Greg” Newsome II grew up on the south side of Chicago with his focus on basketball and AAU tournaments before switching to football in middle school. He moved to Carol Stream (30 miles west of Chicago) and enrolled at Glenbard North High School where he lettered in basketball, track and football, playing defensive back and wide receiver. After a year on the freshman team, he earned First Team All-Conference as a sophomore with 40 tackles and a team-best six interceptions. Newsome again earned All-Conference honors as a junior, finishing with 85 tackles, 18 passes defended and three interceptions, adding 224 receiving yards and four touchdowns on offense. He transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., for his senior season, finishing with 15 tackles, 17 passes defended and two interceptions in 2017. In track, Newsome clocked personal-bests in the 100 meters (11.05) and 200 meters (22.86).

A three-star cornerback recruit out of high school, Newsome was the No. 62 ranked cornerback in the class and the No. 107 ranked recruit in the state of Florida. He considered offers from Arkansas, Iowa, Virginia Tech and others, but decided to stay closer to home, signing with Northwestern and enrolling in January 2018. Newsome elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2021 NFL Draft. He became the first Northwestern true junior to declare for the NFL Draft after three years since Darnell Autry in 1996.

STRENGTHS: Balanced athlete with nimble feet and the lower body muscles to spring in any direction…fluid hip turn to stay under control and in phase…matches receivers off the line and out of breaks…pedal quickness to collect-and-close…heightened cover awareness with NFL eyes to map receivers up and down the field…high football IQ…has a knack for finding passing lanes…plays through the hands of receivers to create incompletions…calms his feet downhill to square up ball carriers as a tackler and get them on the ground…takes it personally when completions happen and the coaches praise his competitive confidence (Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald: “He’s got a short memory and a quick fuse”)…zero touchdowns allowed in 2020…got his hands on a lot of passes in college with 25 passes defended in only 21 games played.

WEAKNESSES: Wiry body type with lean, stringy muscle tone…average play strength and needs to continue and get stronger…will struggle to shed blocks and can be jostled from his path by physical wide receivers…will find his hips turned prematurely, biting on double-moves and getting himself turned around…grabby tendencies and flags will follow…only one interception in his career and needs to turn the break-ups into turnovers…lack of size leads to durability concerns…missed at least three games each of his three collegiate seasons due to nagging injuries, including a groin issue as a junior (December 2020).

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Northwestern, Newsome was the left cornerback in former defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz’s man/zone scheme, lining up primarily from off-coverage. After leading the team in passes defended (11) as a sophomore, he was No. 1 in the Big Ten in passes defended (10) as a junior and led the FBS in passer rating against (15.77) — of the 10 completions he allowed in 2020, only one was 10-plus yards downfield. With his agile footwork and anticipation, Newsome attaches himself to receivers and stays under control in coverage. He has terrific eyes to sort and make plays, but he needs to turn the pass break-ups into interceptions. Overall, Newsome comes with durability concerns, especially against the rigors of the NFL, but he is a route magnet with fluid transitions and natural instincts. He projects as a press-man NFL starter as a rookie. [212]

GRADE: 1st Round (No. 18 overall)

[LondonBrown]

2. JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH | Notre Dame 6014 | 221 lbs. | rJR. Hampton, Va. (Bethel) 11/4/1999 (age 21.49)

BACKGROUND: Jeremiah “Wu” Owusu-Koramoah (oh-WOO-sue COR-ah-MO-uh), who is the youngest of three boys, grew up in the Hampton area and skipped kindergarten. He starred on the AAU basketball circuit and in pee-wee football and enrolled at Bethel High School, the alma mater of Allen Iverson. Owusu-Koramoah was a do-everything performer who played wide receiver and WildDawg quarterback on offense. On defense, he played cornerback, safety and as a linebacker near the line of scrimmage. As a senior, Owusu-Koramoah posted 71 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and five forced fumbles and earned First Team All-State honors on defense and First Team All-State on offense as a wide receiver. In basketball, he averaged more than 13 points per game, helped lead Bethel to the Class 5A state title game and earned All-State honors.

A three-star recruit out of high school, Owusu-Koramoah was the No. 31-ranked athlete in the class and the No. 17 recruit in Virginia. He received more than 20 offers with some programs seeing him as a wide receiver while others recruited him as a defensive back. Owusu-Koramoah originally verballed to Virginia over offers from Temple, Vanderbilt and Yale but kept his recruitment open. He visited Michigan State and Notre Dame and flipped to the Irish on signing day, becoming the first player who Notre Dame specifically recruited for its new rover position. Owusu-Koramoah also received basketball scholarships from programs like Maryland-Eastern Shore and VMI. His older brother Joshua was a walk-on linebacker at William & Mary (2016-18). His mother, Beverly, is a retired sergeant in the U.S. Army. Owusu-Koramoah elected to skip his final season of eligibility and enter the draft.

STRENGTHS: Rare explosion for his size…speedy, rangy and covers a lot of ground in a short time…drives on the football with sudden twitch…consistently closes cushion and chases down plays from behind…his burst off the edge is a frightening sight for quarterbacks…stays patient at the top of routes before carrying tight ends and slot receivers downfield…shows enough cover awareness to know what’s going on…very intelligent on and off the field, sniffing out plays…physical striker who doesn’t just explode toward his target. He maintains that explosion through his target, creating violent collisions (he had five forced fumbles over the last two seasons)…showed improvement with his ability to unwind from blocks…innately motivated and known as a work out junkie…offers position versatility with experience in traditional and hybrid linebacker/safety roles…looks like a missile flying down the field on special teams coverages…productive starter with 142 tackles and 24.5 tackles for loss over 25 starts the last two seasons.

WEAKNESSES: Reacts before reading…his explosion will find him out of position because of his eagerness to make plays…too many false steps and can be shook by route runners…needs to shore up his pursuit angles and strike zone to be a more consistent tackler…too many ball carriers escape his grasp, struggling to finish with his hands…still developing his take-on skills…needs to better reach his landmarks and get deep enough with his zone responsibilities…tweener size and his positional fit will depend on the scheme…missed most of his redshirt freshman season after breaking a foot in practice (September 2018).

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Notre Dame, Owusu-Koramoah was a natural fit at the rover position in former defensive coordinator Clark Lea’s scheme, playing a hybrid role that asked him to be a linebacker and nickel defender. The coaches put a lot on his plate and he responded by filling the stat sheet, taking home the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker and ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2020. A versatile performer, Owusu-Koramoah has remarkable speed and closing burst to blitz, mirror and cover, carrying tight ends or wide receivers across the field. He creates explosive force as a tackler but needs continued work with his [188] finishing skills and play recognition. Overall, Owusu-Koramoah will have his share of undisciplined plays, but his one-step explosion, playmaking range and intelligence give his coaches flexibility to deploy him at linebacker, safety or nickel. He projects as a high-ceiling, chess-piece defender.

GRADE: 1st Round (No. 15 overall)

[LondonBrown]

21. ANTHONY SCHWARTZ | Auburn 6000 | 186 lbs. | JR. Pembroke Pines, Fla. (American Heritage) 9/5/2000 (age 20.65)

BACKGROUND: Anthony Schwartz grew up in south Florida and started playing football at six years old. He attended American Heritage High School, where he was coached by two former NFL players (Mike Rumph and Patrick Surtain) and was teammates with several top recruits like CB Patrick Surtain II (Alabama), CB Tyson Campbell (Georgia), CB Marco Wilson (Florida) and DL Tedarrell Slaton (Florida). Schwartz helped Heritage to back-to-back 5A state championships and a 27-game winning streak his junior and senior years. He posted 25 catches for 507 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior, adding a rushing touchdown and an interception on defense. Schwartz was a nationally-ranked sprinter in high school, setting a world youth record in the 100 meters (10.15). As a senior, he was named the 2018 Gatorade track athlete of the year, winning the Class 2A state championship in the 100 meters (10.07) and 200 meters (20.41). Schwartz won the silver medal in the 100 meters (10.22) at the IAAF world championships in Finland, taking the gold medal in the 4x100 relay (38.88) for Team USA.

A four-star recruit out of high school, Schwartz was the No. 30 wide receiver in the 2018 class and the No. 28 recruit in the state of Florida. He considered offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Notre Dame, USC and others before choosing Auburn, signing as a two-sport athlete. Schwartz joined the Auburn track team and set the school’s freshman record in the indoor 60 meters (6.59) and placed sixth at the SEC Outdoors in the 100 meters (10.21). Due to injuries and COVID, he decided to focus on football only after the 2019 season. Schwartz elected to skip his senior year and enter the 2021 NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS: World-class speed and was the fastest player on the field in every game in college…sees a lot of underneath targets with defenders respecting his deep speed…can make the first man miss and use his acceleration to turn short throws into big gains (77.0% of his receiving yards in 2020 came after the catch)…hits another gear downfield to widen his vertical separation…was responsible for six offensive plays (five receptions, one rush) of 50-plus yards, including a 91-yard catch in 2020…has the fluidity to get in/out of his breaks and understands leverage points mid-route…his stop quickness creates quick windows at the top of routes…his catch radius steadily improved the last three seasons…averaged 7.7 yards per carry on rush attempts with seven rushing touchdowns.

WEAKNESSES: Narrowly-built athlete with lean muscle tone…inconsistent tracking skills and needs to do a better job attacking the football…prone to focus lapses and body catches with too many footballs ending up on the ground (eight drops in 2020)…questionable route awareness and often late to make coverage adjustments or sell patterns…doesn’t have the body strength to power through tackle attempts or work congested areas of the field…for a player with his speed, I expected better more than only 11 career catches of 25-plus yards…wasn’t used as a return man in college…required surgery on his left hand (August 2019), which hampered him during the first part of his sophomore season…had more rushing touchdowns (seven) than receiving touchdowns (six) in his Auburn career.

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Auburn, Williams was the Y receiver in former offensive coordinator Chad Morris’ spread scheme, lining up across the formation. With his speed, he was a threat every time he touched the football in the Tigers’ offense, although there were a lot of “all-or-nothing” type plays with only 9.4% of his catches resulting in a 25-plus yard gain over the last three seasons. Schwartz’s track background is impressive and translates to the football field, using speed cuts that create conflict for cover defenders and destroy pursuit angles for tacklers. He can accelerate in a blink to win vertically, but he is more of a catch-and-run weapon and lacks the size, ball skills or instincts to be a high-volume target. Overall, Schwartz needs to grow into more of a well-rounded, reliable receiver, but he has the rare natural speed and burst that no defensive back wants to face (and will likely get him overdrafted). He projects as a feast-or-famine NFL receiver with room to be more.

GRADE: 4th Round

[LondonBrown]

10. JAMES HUDSON | Cincinnati 6046 | 313 lbs. | rJR. Toledo, Ohio (Central Catholic) 5/13/1999 (age 21.96)

BACKGROUND: James Hudson III grew up in Toledo and attended Central Catholic High School where he was a two-way varsity player at defensive end and left tackle. After helping Central Catholic to the 2014 state title as a sophomore, he posted 82 tackles, 25.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks as a junior defensive end, earning First Team All-Conference honors. As a senior, Hudson finished with 80 tackles, 34.0 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks in 2016, earning Conference Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-State honors. He was close with high school teammate RB Michael Warren, who signed with Cincinnati (2017-19) and spent the 2020 season on several NFL practice squads.

A four-star defensive tackle recruit out of high school, Hudson was the No. 13 defensive tackle in the class and the No. 9 recruit in Ohio. He grew up an Ohio State fan, but the Buckeyes never offered. He initially committed to Kentucky after his sophomore season, but his recruitment took off as a junior when he added offers from Alabama, Miami and several others. Hudson initially favored Michigan State but enjoyed his time at Michigan and signed with the Wolverines as a defensive lineman. After redshirting in 2017, he moved to the offensive line and played in three games in 2018 before electing to transfer mid-season. Hudson joined Cincinnati in December 2018 and petitioned for an immediate eligibility waiver, citing depression, but it was denied by the NCAA, creating a public feud when head coach Luke Fickell claimed Michigan and Jim Harbaugh were blocking the transfer. Hudson was eligible for the 2019 bowl game and started at left tackle for the Bearcats. He graduated with his degree (December 2020). Hudson elected to forego his remaining eligibility and enter the 2021 NFL Draft. He accepted his invitation to the 2021 Senior BowL

STRENGTHS: Quick out of his stance with balance at the point-of-attack…mirrors well and stays under control in space…aggressive, tight puncher with massive hands and grip strength to lock out and snatch…unlocks his hips for added power in his strike…bursts into his run fits and mashes down to create movement…executes with timing on combos and climbing blocks…comfortable second-level blocker, latching and driving linebackers where he wants…improved processor to keep his eyes in the right place…plays a physical brand of football and isn’t shy showing his mean streak when finishing…showed steady development last season and has yet to play his best football.

WEAKNESSES: Adequate frame, but lacks ideal length…inconsistent knee bend mid-kickslide, allowing his pads to rise and base to narrow…doesn’t have elite range and rushers can out-race him around the corner…bad habit of over-setting, leaving his inside edge vulnerable, especially if he doesn’t connect with his punch…low hands and not the most technically sound player…his angles at the line of scrimmage and second level are inconsistent…below average experience with only 14 games played and 11 starts at the college level…his undisciplined play leads to costly, avoidable flags (six penalties in 2020, including a targeting foul in his final game). 

SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Cincinnati, Hudson lined up at left tackle in offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s scheme. After starting his college career as a defensive lineman at Michigan, he made the switch to tackle and transferred to Cincinnati where he didn’t allow a sack in his one season (11 starts) for the Bearcats. Hudson fires out of his stance and achieves a balanced position in pass pro to mirror with quick, controlled steps. With only 719 career snaps at tackle, he has some bad habits, forgetting his feet or allowing his pads to rise, but he flashes power in his upper half to create torque on command. Overall, Hudson requires continued technical refinement to match up in the NFL, but his light feet, strong hands and natural balance are an intriguing starter pack at left tackle. He would fit best in a zone scheme where he can develop into an above-average starter.

GRADE: 3rd Round (No. 83 overall)

[LondonBrown]

8. TOMMY TOGIAI | Ohio State 6014 | 296 lbs. | JR. Pocatello, Idaho (Highland) 9/19/1999 (age 21.61)

BACKGROUND: Tommy Togiai (TOE-gee-eye) grew up in southern Idaho and started playing football in middle school where he led his youth league team to a league title in 2012. He attended Highland High School in Pocatello and played on the varsity football team as a freshman. Togiai posted 62 tackles and 6.0 sacks as a junior and anchored a Highland defense that allowed only 63.7 rushing yards per game. As a senior, he earned First Team All-State honors for the third straight season with 93 tackles, 11.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception and led Highland to the 5A state championship. Togiai was named the 2017 Gatorade Idaho Player of the Year and a U.S. Army All-American. He also lettered in basketball in high school.

A four-star defensive tackle recruit out of high school, Togiai was the No. 3-ranked defensive tackle in the class and the No. 1 recruit in the state with some calling him the best recruit in Idaho history. The offers started pouring in, starting with Utah during his sophomore year and soon followed by Oregon, USC and Washington. However, Ohio State made a strong push and was able to lure him east. Togiai became the first player from Idaho to sign with the Buckeyes, graduating early and enrolling in January 2018. His father (Tala) was a professional rugby player in Samoa. His older brother (T.J.) played defensive tackle at Carroll College (2015) and Idaho State (2016-20). His maternal grandfather played football and basketball at Ricks College. Togiai elected to skip his final season of eligibility and enter the 2021 NFL Draft

STRENGTHS: Stout, filled-out frame with better strength than most 330-pounders…keeps his shoulders square and torques his body to stay rooted in his spot versus single and double blocks…bullies at the point of attack, creating immediate knockback…uses his upper-body strength to stack, discard and find the football…enough quickness to weasel through gaps and get his momentum going downhill…flashes a stab move to create pass rush lanes…his acceleration and motor consistently jump off the screen as he chases down plays with pure effort…developed a passion for weightlifting when he was young and was one of the strongest players on the team the moment he arrived in Columbus…his teammates say he was a leader in the defensive line meetings since his freshman year…durable and avoided injury in college…his production and impact increased with his snaps and experience.

WEAKNESSES: Shorter-than-ideal arms…not a bad athlete, but lacks fluidity in his lower body…not the most graceful when prying through tight gaps…can get upright and allow blockers to get lower than him…undeveloped pass rusher, throwing late hands and not showing much of a plan…inconsistent counters once initially blocked…his instincts are still in the development phase…only one season as a full-time starter with underwhelming career numbers (8.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks).

SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Ohio State, Togiai played the one-technique position in defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs’ four-man front, lining up primarily over the A-gap. He was one of the prizes of the 2018 recruiting class and after two seasons coming off the bench, he became a starter in 2020 and emerged as arguably the Buckeyes’ most valuable player on defense. Togiai is a bully in the trenches and has outstanding strength and flexibility through his hips to anchor, shed and make plays at the line of scrimmage. He takes the “hard work always beats talent” mantra to heart, never taking plays off and competing with relentless effort. Overall, Togiai needs to develop his handwork and timing as a pass rusher, but he boasts developed power, physical hands and budding instincts. He projects as a stout run defender with pass rush upside.

GRADE: 3rd-4th Round

[LondonBrown]

18. RICHARD LECOUNTE | Georgia 5104 | 196 lbs. | SR. Riceboro, Ga. (Liberty County) 9/11/1998 (age 22.63)

BACKGROUND: Richard LeCounte III (luh-COUNT), the youngest of six children, was born and raised in the small town of Riceboro, Ga. (population under 800; 50 miles south of Savannah). He attended Liberty County High School (the same school as LB Raekwon McMillan, who was his mentor) and was a three-sport letterman in basketball, football and track. A do-everything performer, LeCounte starred on both sides of the ball and posted 100 tackles and two interceptions as a junior safety, adding 17 total touchdowns on offense. As a senior, he recorded 100 tackles, two forced fumbles and two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) with 39 catches for 800 yards and 20 total touchdowns as a receiver and quarterback. LeCounte earned First Team All-State honors in 2016 and finished his prep career with 399 tackles, 13 interceptions and 39 total touchdowns (23 receiving, 10 passing, three rushing and three on defense). In basketball, he led Liberty County to a 28- 1 record and the Class AAAA state championship as a junior, earning All-Region Player of the Year honors with 20.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. In track, LeCounte set a personal-best in the high jump of 6’4”.

A five-star recruit out of high school, LeCounte was the No. 2 safety in the 2017 class (behind JaCoby Stevens), the No. 3 recruit in the state of Georgia (behind QB Davis Mills and DT Aubrey Solomon) and the No. 25 recruit nationally. He collected several offers from powerhouse programs like Alabama, Clemson, Michigan and others. But he narrowed down his choice to Georgia and Ohio State, picking his home-state Bulldogs and becoming the first official commit of the Kirby Smart era. LeCounte accepted his invitation to the 2021 Senior Bowl. 

STRENGTHS: Field-fast and covers a lot of ground…nimble-footed with the athleticism to carry crossers or ride patterns from the slot…galloping strides in pursuit to make plays at either sideline, beating his teammates to the ball carrier…decisive trigger to see it and go, jumping routes and finding the pass lane…mean-spirited tackler, competing with the aggressive nature required for the position…offensive background shows at the catch point, taking advantage of mistakes by the quarterback (eight interceptions the last three seasons, averaging 17.9 yards per return)…charismatic leader and very well liked in the Georgia locker room…productive three-year starter (33 starts).

WEAKNESSES: Disappointing testing times at his pro day…flies around the field, but often out of control, leading to missed tackles…overaggressive, often to the point of taking himself out of position…inconsistent tackling technique from play to play, hugging or attacking too high…eyes will get stuck in the backfield, allowing receivers to get behind him…handsy in man coverage, tugging jersey to hop a ride…lacks ideal bulk and size for the position, which leads to durability concerns…missed the second half of the 2020 season due to injuries (concussion, shoulder sprain, bruised ribs) following a traffic accident when his dirt bike was struck by a vehicle, leaving him unconscious. [

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Georgia, LeCounte lined up at strong safety in Kirby Smart’s 3-3-5 base scheme, playing mostly to the field side. He was one of three five-star recruits from the Bulldogs’ 2017 class and quickly established himself as one of the team’s locker-room leaders and standout defenders. LeCounte plays with outstanding pursuit range and decisiveness, competing with the fearless mentality required. However, there is a fine line between aggressive and undisciplined, and he spends time on both sides, leading to feast or famine plays. Overall, LeCounte competes with outstanding play speed and energy, but you have to live with the inconsistencies. His tape gives off vibes of an undersized version of Marquise Blair.

GRADE: 6th Round

[LondonBrown]

26. DEMETRIC FELTON | UCLA 5085 | 189 lbs. | rSR. Temecula, Calif. (Great Oak) 7/16/1998 (age 22.79)

BACKGROUND: Demetric Felton Jr. was born in Memphis and grew up in Southern California, playing football at the youth level. He attended Great Oak High School where he was a wide receiver before transitioning to running back as a junior, rushing for 1,277 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2014. As a senior, Felton earned All-State and All-Division honors with 1,347 rushing yards on 166 carries (8.1 average) and 14 touchdowns, adding 23 receptions for 391 yards and two scores. He returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in high school. Felton also ran track at Great Oak with a personal-best 11.61 in the 100-meters.

A three-star recruit out of high school, Felton was the No. 10 all-purpose back in the class (one spot ahead of RB Josh Jacobs) and the No. 50 recruit in the state of California. He considered offers from California, Michigan, Utah, Washington and Washington State before choosing to stay close to home, committing to UCLA. Felton signed as a wide receiver but moved to running back midway through his Bruins career. He accepted his invitation to the 2021 Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Versatile play profile with his experience as a rusher, receiver and returner…owns the pull-away acceleration to run away from pursuit…sharp footwork at the top of his routes, hitting a second gear out of his breaks…able to gear down and then mash the gas to win on double moves…elusive feet to avoid press or be slippery in space…steady pass-catching hands…at his best on quick-hitting angle routes that create YAC opportunities…showed much better route savvy at the Senior Bowl than on his UCLA tape…experienced on kick returns, averaging 15.7 yards per return with one touchdown (39/611/1)…the UCLA coaches go out of their way to talk about his value to their program…combined for 2,258 all-purpose yards his junior and senior seasons in college.

WEAKNESSES: Undersized, lacking ideal height, weight and build…work in progress as a downfield route runner…needs to shorten his step count and use his eyes to better sell corners…will freelance at times and ends up in a different spot than where the quarterback expects…will struggle to win crowded catch points and establish body position vs. NFL defenders…unproven catch radius…needs to break some bad habits like using his body to finish catches or unnecessarily jumping at the catch point…limited jam experience on tape.

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at UCLA, Felton was initially a wide receiver before moving to running back in head coach Chip Kelly’s pro-style spread scheme. He was productive whenever he touched the football for the Bruins, both in volume (led the Pac-12 with 165.8 all-purpose yards per game in 2020) and big plays (had four touchdowns of 75-plus yards in 2019, a UCLA single-season record). Primarily a running back in college, Felton will require time to sharpen his awareness and skills, but his route construction, break quickness and ball skills were impressive during Senior Bowl practices at receiver. Regardless of how he gets the ball, the explosive movements and speed are there for him to threaten opponents in different ways. Overall, Felton comes with fit and refinement questions, but he can be a matchup weapon with his flexibility out of the backfield or at receiver. He projects best in the slot and as a return man.

GRADE: 5th Round

[LondonBrown]

14. TONY FIELDS II | West Virginia 6002 | 222 lbs. | SR. Las Vegas, Nev. (Desert Pines) 6/18/1999 (age 21.86)

BACKGROUND: Tony Fields II grew up in the Las Vegas suburbs and attended Desert Pines High School, where he was a three-sport letterman in baseball, basketball and football. A linebacker on defense and wide receiver on offense, he earned All-Conference and All-City honors as a sophomore, junior and senior, also picking up First Team All-State honors as a senior. After posting 93 tackles and two interceptions as a junior, Fields recorded 110 tackles as a senior captain, leading Desert Pines to the 2016 3A state championship (Fields finished with 148 yards receiving and two touchdowns in the title game).

A three-star recruit out of high school, Fields was the No. 44-ranked athlete in the 2017 recruiting class and the No. 8 recruit in Nevada. He collected more than a dozen scholarship offers, choosing Arizona over Boise State, BYU, Missouri and others. After enrolling early in January 2017, he started three seasons for the Wildcats and graduated with his degree in literacy, learning and leadership, entering the transfer portal after his junior season. For his final season of eligibility, Fields committed to West Virginia over Minnesota and Texas, rejoining Mountaineers co-defensive coordinator Jahmile Addae, who recruited him to Arizona out of high school. Fields accepted his invitation to the Senior Bowl, earning top linebacker honors on the National team.

STRENGTHS: Rangy athlete with the speed to make plays at either sideline…quick to process and key versus the run…uses his agility to slither around blocks and find the ball carrier…relies on timing and physicality to strike and shed versus blockers…calms his feet well in space to break down as a tackler…flexible hips and lower body to cleanly change directions…very active in zone coverage, sensing throwing lanes and forcing quarterbacks to go elsewhere…quickly established himself as a team leader and tone-setter once he arrived at West Virginia, according to the coaches…durable and tough, playing through minor injuries and making 45 career starts…highly productive with at least 88 tackles in each of his four collegiate seasons.

WEAKNESSES: Smallish frame and doesn’t have prototypical length or growth potential…struggles to leverage gaps versus blockers and can be eaten up near the line of scrimmage…needs to stay disciplined with his run fits and hold contain…inconsistent finishing strength when his tackling technique isn’t perfect…needs to avoid the mental mistakes (two targeting fouls and a horse collar penalty on three of the 2020 tapes studied)…it is tough for him to work off contact mid-pursuit…will occasionally get too relaxed with his coverage reps, finding himself lost in space.

SUMMARY: A one-year starter at West Virginia, Fields lined up as the middle linebacker in the Mountaineers' 3-3-5 base scheme, previously lining up as a weakside linebacker during his three seasons in Arizona. He was one of the most impactful free-agent signings in college football last offseason, making all the defensive sets and calls for the Mountaineers and averaging 9.8 tackles per game as a senior. With his natural feel for the game, Fields is quick to diagnose and go with the athleticism and toughness to make plays in the backfield or downfield. A better run-around defender than take-on player, it can be tough for him to operate near the line of scrimmage because of his lack of size. Overall, Fields can be too easily engulfed when he isn’t a step ahead of the play, but he is an instinctive player with above-average play speed to be a rangy run-and-hit weakside linebacker in the NFL.

GRADE: 4th-5th Round

[LondonBrown]

11. MARVIN WILSON | Florida State 6037 | 303 lbs. | SR. Houston, Texas (Episcopal) 9/5/1998 (age 22.65) #21

BACKGROUND: Marvin Wilson grew up in the Acres Home neighborhood in northwest Houston and his family endured tough financial times. He had the opportunity to attend Episcopal High School (a private school in Bellaire), primarily as a basketball player before football emerged as his main sport. Wilson posted 19.0 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks as a senior while earning numerous All-American awards. He finished his prep career with 71 tackles for loss and 42.0 sacks and played alongside other top recruits like OT Walker Little (Stanford), WR Jaylen Waddle (Alabama) and WR Jhamon Ausbon (Texas A&M).

A five-star defensive tackle recruit out of high school, Wilson was the No. 1 ranked defensive tackle, the No. 1 ranked player in Texas (ahead of CB Jeff Okudah and Little) and the No. 6 recruit overall. He started receiving scholarship offers from major programs as a sophomore. Wilson had a final five of Florida State, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma and South Florida, committing to the Seminoles on signing day. He accepted his invitation to the 2021 Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Broad-shouldered brick house with a strong trunk…eats up blockers and holds his ground versus power…flashes the violence to bench press blockers off him…physical hand swipe to replace the punch of blockers…shows a natural sense for the inside run game, maintaining his gap integrity…shows the line of scrimmage awareness to track ball carriers and find the lane…adequate movements for his size to attack gaps…effective looper, rushing from the outside…flashes the ability to make plays outside his square…doesn’t miss many tackle opportunities…three blocked kicks in 2020.

WEAKNESSES: Stiff midsection and ankle tight, lacking the body twitch to easily unwind from blocks…played overweight as a senior and his body composition issues were clear on tape…finds himself off-balance too often at the point of attack…struggles to disengage and needs to better lock out and maximize his length…doesn’t consistently create his own passing lanes…relies on his power instead of countering with sound tactics…suffered back-to-back season-ending injuries as a junior and senior with a broken thumb that required surgery (November 2019) and a leg injury that required a minor procedure (November 2020)…below-average backfield production and didn’t reach double-digit sacks in his career (39 games).

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Florida State, Wilson lined up at both the three- and one-technique positions in defensive coordinator Adam Fuller’s scheme. He was part of Jimbo Fisher’s highly regarded 2017 recruiting class (that included other five-stars like Cam Akers), but his development appeared to suffer due to the turmoil within the program, including three different coaching staffs the last four years. Wilson has NFL tools and flashes the upfield burst and play strength to force his way through gaps. However, he played too heavy on his 2020 tape and his motor tends to spurt instead of rev, simply going through the motions. Overall, Wilson has size and talent, but he struggles to play with balance through contact and lacks explosive movements to be a consistent factor in the backfield. He projects as a mid-round depth piece with obvious bust potential.

GRADE: 5th Round

[LondonBrown]

54. KIONDRE THOMAS | Kansas State 6000 | 185 lbs. | rSR. Fort Smith, Ark. (Northside) 2/7/1998 (age 23.23)

SUMMARY: Kiondre (key-ON-dre) Thomas lettered in football and track at Northside High School and earned All-State honors at corner with 63 tackles and six interceptions, adding six touchdowns on offense. A three-star recruit, he committed to Minnesota and was part of the cornerback rotation for three seasons. Thomas graduated and transferred to Kansas State for his final season of eligibility, starting the final four games in 2020 (allowed 10 completions and one touchdown). He is at his best in press-man where he can jam and stay attached to receivers up-and-down the field. In off-coverage, Thomas struggles to multitask and break down the route while also keeping track of the quarterback in the pocket. He has a questionable mental process, which leads to spacing issues and inconsistent body position. Overall, Thomas doesn’t have a productive resume, but he is a physical competitor with the impressive testing numbers that won’t go unnoticed by NFL teams.

GRADE: Priority Free Agent

[LondonBrown]

39. ROMEO MCKNIGHT | Charlotte 6041 | 251 lbs. | rSR. Crystal Lake, Ill. (Central) 3/25/1998 (age 23.09)

SUMMARY: Romeo McKnight was born in South Bend and attended Crystal Like Central High School where he was a standout running back and defense end. He also won the Class 2A state title in wrestling at 220 pounds as a junior. McKnight missed his senior season in high school due to a torn ACL in his right knee (September 2015). He committed to Iowa, but never took the field, redshirting in 2016 and suffering another knee injury in 2017. He had a productive two-year run at FCS-level Illinois State before transferring to Charlotte for his final season. McKnight gets upfield quickly with his quick feet and is always in chase mode. However, he is a narrow-based player with inconsistent take-on skills and not enough power in his upper body to see his rush moves come to fruition. Overall, McKnight is an athletic and flexible rusher (led his team in tackles for loss the last three years), but he struggles to consistently play through contact. He projects as an NFL nickel rusher.

GRADE: Priority Free Agent

[LondonBrown]

Nothing written for the other two Browns UDFA's listed here 

https://www.news5cleveland.com/sports/browns/udfa-tracker-heres-who-the-browns-have-added-after-the-draft

[Orion]

Thanks for all of this info London.

[darren15]

Now I would like the copy and paste free version ...where you type it all out London

[Tour2ma]

8 hours ago, darren15 said:

Now I would like the copy and paste free version ...where you type it all out London

Do you really want to be inundated with "whilsts" and "zed avoidance"?