Did the Browns find their heir apparent to left tackle Joe Thomas with the selection of Auburn’s Shon Coleman in third round, at No. 76, of the NFL Draft on Friday night?
Perhaps.
And did head coach Hue Jackson find that quarterback he said he would get in the draft in USC’s Cody Kessler, who taken near the end of the third round at No. 93 overall?
Perhaps.
Coleman played left tackle for the Tigers, but initially he will likely be moved to right tackle to replace Mitchell Schwartz, who thankfully was allowed to walk in free agency. In that way, he can gradually learn how to play the left side from Thomas, the future Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Kessler is just a little over 6-foot-1, so he’s not the big quarterback that it appeared Jackson would take. But he’s an accurate passer who is smart and a good field general. He really understands the game.
Now, what will the Browns do with the first two picks of the fourth round, at Nos. 99 and 100, when the last day of the draft resumes at noon Saturday? That’s hard to say.
Ohio State’s Cardale Jones and Hinckley Township native Connor Cook of Michigan State are two of the several big-name quarterbacks who are still on the board. Would the Browns, after already drafting Kessler, add another quarterback right on his heels? It’s doubtful, since the Browns have so many other needs, but this is the first time through a draft with this new regime, so you never know just how they’ll react, just what they’re really thinking.
But here’s what we do know: The Browns attacked a lot of needs on Friday, getting two speedy, productive, edge pass rushers in ends/linebackers Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib, a promising tackle in Shon Coleman and a developmental quarterback in Cody Kessler. Add them to another Coleman, wide receiver Corey from the middle of the first round on Thursday night, and the Browns have added a lot of young talent.
Still, though, the Browns can’t afford to pat themselves on the back. There’s way too much left to do on Saturday, and the club, which remains way behind their three rivals in the AFC North, has to take full advantage of the picks it has, especially those first two ones right out of the gate.
Get some rest tonight but don’t sleep in so much that you miss the one-two punch the Browns will have on Saturday.