CLEVELAND, Ohio - Despite trading away their first- and second-round picks, the Browns added nine new players to the roster during the 2022 NFL Draft. We asked Browns fans to grade each one, and the results were ... mixed.
The Browns’ first pick of the draft, cornerback Martin Emerson in the third round, was given a C by voters, with nearly 80 percent of the vote opting for C, D or F. Other C grades included edge Alex Wright (third round) receiver Mike Woods II (sixth round) and center Dawson Deaton (seventh round).
The highest grade went to kicker Cade York, a fourth-round pick given an overwhelming A (70 percent) by voters. They also gave an A to defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey (fourth round).
Everybody else received a B. It’s a group that includes receiver David Bell (third round), running back James Ford (fifth round) and edge Isaiah Thomas (seventh round).
But that’s what Browns fans think. What do national draft analysts think? We rounded up their grades and what they had to say about the Browns’ 2022 draft.
Chad Reuter, NFL.com
Grade: B.
Reuter’s take: The trade for Deshaun Watson sets the direction of the franchise for the foreseeable future, as the Browns gave up three first-round picks as part of the deal. Cleveland has its quarterback, but I believe the price was too high for Watson, who is currently facing 22 civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault and misconduct, as well as potential discipline under the NFL’s personal conduct policy pending the outcome of an ongoing league investigation. On Day 2, Emerson, Wright and Bell all met needs and provided good value at premium positions. The Browns can count receiver Amari Cooper as part of their Day 3 haul, which was a good start. Getting the aggressive, quick Winfrey at the three-technique spot in the fourth round was a steal, as was selecting his teammate, Thomas, as a power end in the seventh round. York went a bit earlier than I expected, though he showed a nice leg on field goals and kickoffs at LSU. Ford, an Alabama transfer, is vastly underrated.
Nate Davis USA Today
Grade: A-.
Davis’ take: Mid-round DE Alex Wright (Round 3), WR David Bell (Round 3), DT Perrion Winfrey (Round 4) and K Cade York (Round 4) could all pay off right away. And don’t forget they essentially surrendered a fifth-rounder to get WR Amari Cooper. But this draft and future ones will ultimately be defined by what QB Deshaun Watson, and all the baggage he comes with, provides to this franchise.
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
Grade: B.
Iyer’s take: The Browns used their early draft capital to get Deshaun Watson and didn’t get more by choosing not to deal Baker Mayfield during (the draft). Emerson and Wright were shaky initial depth picks, but Bell and Winfrey were incredible need values for Andrew Berry. They also copycatted the Bengals and solved their big kicker issue with York. It’s a true middle-class haul.
Conor Orr, Sports Illustrated
Grade: B+.
Orr’s take: This year will be a significant test of the Browns’ process as a front office. Paul DePodesta and the scouting department have gotten roughly six years of data and experience to try and ferret out what makes a good football player and what is necessary to win. The results so far have yielded a single playoff win, far more than the Browns have enjoyed in the past but probably less than the average general manager from a non-analytical background dart throwing at Mel Kiper’s Big Board. That said, this draft is full of some players who can come in and play quickly. Winfrey is a favorite here .... The violent defensive tackle has some really impressive anticipatory skills against the run and a knack for pushing his way into the backfield. This is a year for hybrid run-stuffing/pass-rushing tackles and Winfrey is one of the best. A lingering question: Did Cleveland do enough at wide receiver?
Staff, Pro Football Focus
Grade: B.
PFF’s take: Martin Emerson may prove to be a better player in the NFL than in college, where he was miscast in a system that didn’t quite play to his strengths. He has elite length for the position and could make a real name for himself in press coverage, but he struggles in off coverage and in space. He snagged just one interception in his college career despite facing 130 targets. Alex Wright was one of the best-graded edge rushers in the nation in 2021, earning a 90.4 PFF grade at UAB after two solid years and a consistently improving pass-rushing grade. He had 51 pressures and some of the most dominant reps of any prospect. He has real size and power and has flown under the radar throughout the process. Bell is slow and fell down boards as a result, but he still was a super productive wideout in the B1G. He attacks the ball well and has great physicality at 6-foot-1, 212 pounds. He isn’t a dynamic player by any means, but he does enough of the little things well to come in and produce early in Cleveland. Winfrey started his college career at Iowa Western Community College for two years before transferring to Oklahoma. He made an impact as a penetrator with an elite first step to get upfield. However, he was often miscast in Oklahoma’s defense, playing 236 snaps at nose tackle despite being on the slimmer side.
Mark Maske, The Washington Post
Grade: C-
Maske’s take: The Browns depleted their draft resources in the Deshaun Watson trade and have failed to find a taker for Watson’s predecessor, QB Baker Mayfield. It’s questionable whether they managed to get proper value with their third-round choices of CB Martin Emerson, DE Alex Wright and WR David Bell. Using a fourth-rounder on a kicker, Cade York, is interesting. He better succeed.
Luke Easterling, DraftWire
Grade: B
Easterling’s take: The Browns didn’t make a pick until the third round, but they made up for it once they finally got on the clock. CB Martin Emerson Jr. is a long corner who was a solid value in that range, while EDGE Alex Wright is massive and underrated. WR David Bell isn’t a burner, but he’s a well-rounded pass-catcher who can make an immediate impact as a third rounder. The fourth round was both feast and famine, as the Browns stole a top-60 player in Winfrey to fill a huge need, but reached for the first specialist off the board in York. It wasn’t a big need, but RB Jerome Ford was a sneaky value pick in the fifth round.
Mel Kiper, ESPN
Grade: B.
Kiper’s take: David Bell dropped because of his speed -- he ran a 4.65-second 40 at the combine -- but he put up huge numbers at Purdue. He could be a nice target on curls and crossers because of his sure hands. I expect Cleveland to be in the market for veteran receiving help after the draft, but Bell could fill a role as a rookie. Martin Emerson is an outside press corner, defensive end Alex Wright has long arms for his 6-foot-5 frame and has some upside as a pass-rusher, and Cade York is my top-ranked kicker. Perrion Winfrey is a nice value pick; I thought he could go 50 picks earlier. As a 3-technique tackle, he can wreak havoc against centers and guards. I bet his Oklahoma teammate Isaiah Thomas will make the team as a rotational edge rusher too. It’s tough to get starters without picks until Round 3, but I thought Cleveland did a good job with what it had.
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C Dawson Deaton taken at No. 246
DE Isaiah Thomas taken at No. 223
WR Mike Woods II taken at No. 202
RB Jerome Ford picked at No. 156
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LSU kicker Cade York taken at No. 124
Oklahoma DT Perrion Winfrey picked at No. 108
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