Positions to Watch at the Combine
The annual NFL Combine is underway in Indianapolis, so 300 plus prospects will have all eyes on them over the next week. The Combine can be broken down into four categories: measurements, medical eval, interviews and on-field drills. You will be able to view workouts and drills on the NFL Network starting Friday, March 2nd at 8 a.m. The schedule is as follows:
Friday, 8 a.m. – RB, OL, ST
Saturday, 8 a.m. – QB, WE, TE
Sunday, 8 a.m. – DL, LB
Monday, 8 a.m. – DB
The Cleveland Browns need help at multiple positions so any fan watching should keep an eye on five key positions.
Safety – Cleveland drafted Jabrill Peppers last year and could be looking to pair him with a young game changer for years to come. As the passing game continues to dominate the game, the value of the safety position grows. Look for Cleveland to draft a safety at some point in the draft. It may be Minkah Fitzpatrick depending on what he is listed as.
1st round potential- Minkah Fitzpatrick*, Derwin James, Ronnie Harrison.
Cornerback – The Browns have been awful against the pass and need help covering receivers. There will be plenty of defensive backs at the Combine, so there will more than enough talent to observe. Expect the Browns to draft multiple cornerbacks this upcoming draft. Plus, many mock drafts have Cleveland drafting Fitzpatrick with the fourth overall pick.
1st round potential- Minkah Fitzpatrick, Denzel Ward, Josh Jackson
Wide Receiver – It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is if there is no one to catch the ball. Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman are great receivers, but have trouble staying on the field. There is a ton of talent available and even though the class lacks an elite receiver, there will be productive targets in the middle of the draft. I’d expect a wide receiver to be selected by the Browns in one of the middle to later rounds.
1st round potential – Calvin Ridley, Courtland Sutton
Running back – Cleveland is bound to draft a running back with Isaiah Crowell’s future up in the air. Keep your eyes on everyone because there is an abundance of prospects that could be drafted in the early rounds. The Browns must seriously consider drafting Saquon Barkley with the first or fourth overall pick, but with so many options on the table, they can afford to wait and still get a really good runner early in the second round.
1st round potential – Saquon Barkley, Derrius Guice, Ronald Jones
Quarterback – This is the position to watch for all Browns fans. Every year we talk about getting a franchise quarterback and now is the chance with the first overall pick. Cleveland needs to get their guy, whoever that may be. Is it Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield or even Josh Allen? Everyone in the Browns organization will be watching the on-field quarterback drills. Sam Darnold isn’t throwing at the Combine, so the Browns will have to wait to see him action.
1st round potential – Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson
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