Cleveland Browns: 2017 NFL Draft Projected Targets
By Peter Smith
Linebackers
Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
Age: 22 years old (Born Dec. 12, 1994)
Height: 6-3.5
Weight: 234 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.67s
Broad Jump: 10’5″
Vertical: 35″
3-Cone: 7.03s
Shuttle: 4.29s
Bench: 15 reps
Production: 71 solo tackles (13.2 percent), 16.5 tackles for loss (24.2 percent), 2 forced fumbles (15.3 percent), 3 pass deflections (5 percent)
Notes: Cunningham is the first player in program history to be a unanimous First Team All-American. He has put together two years of outstanding production and has excellent athleticism.
Elijah Lee, Kansas State
Age: 21 years old (Born Feb. 8, 1996)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 229 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.65s
Broad Jump: 10’2″
Vertical: 38″
3-Cone: 6.91s
Shuttle: 4.27s
Bench: 18 reps
Production: 72 solo tackles (12.8 percent), 6.5 tackles for loss (9.2 percent), 1.5 sacks (5 percent), 1 forced fumble (8.3 percent), 2 interceptions (12.5 percent), 3 pass deflections (6.8 percent)
Notes: Lee is a good run and chase linebacker that can make plays in coverage, but has to get better at taking on and shedding blocks. His age, athleticism and market share are all great and the best may be yet to come for Lee.
Blair Brown, Ohio
Age: 22 years old (Born May 27, 1994)
Height: 5-11.5
Weight: 238 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.65s
Broad Jump: 10’4″
Vertical: 37″ (38″ at Pro Day)
3-Cone: 6.92s
Shuttle: 4.18s
Bench: 22 reps
Production: 71 solo tackles (12.6 percent), 15 tackles for loss (14.2 percent), 4.5 sacks (10.2 percent), 2 forced fumbles (4.7 percent)
Notes: True MIKE backer that is physical, plays with his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage and thrives on contact while also showing impressive speed on the field.
Tau Lotulelei, UNLV
Age: 22 years old (Born Nov. 9, 1994)
Height: 6-0.5
Weight: 229 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.78s with wind, 4.88 against
Broad Jump: 10’1″
Vertical: 34.5″
3-Cone: 6.94s
Shuttle: 4.3s
Bench: 22 reps
Production: 62 solo tackles (12.3 percent), 16.5 tackles for loss (26.1 percent), 3.5 sacks (18.4 percent), 1 forced fumble (6.6 percent), 3 pass deflections (5 percent)
Notes: Tau, short for Tauhelotu, is the younger brother of former UNLV and current Oakland Raiders linebacker John Lotulelei. They were born in and attended high school in Maui.
Eric Wilson, Cincinnati
Age: Unavailable
Height: 6-1.125
Weight: 230 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.53s
Broad Jump: 10’1″
Vertical: 39.5″
3-Cone: 6.96s
Shuttle: 4.31s
Bench: 25 reps
Production: 60 solo tackles (11.9 percent), 7.5 tackles for loss (10.5 percent), 1 forced fumble (9 percent), 2 pass deflections (5 percent)
Notes: Initially went to Northwestern where he redshirted, then transferred to Cincinnati. Wilson has been a fixture on special teams for the past three seasons and thrives on coverage units.
Dylan Cole, Missouri State
Age: 22 years old (Born May 19, 1994)
Height: 6-0.125
Weight: 239 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.52s
Broad Jump: 10’5″
Vertical: 39″
3-Cone: 6.94s
Shuttle: 4.3s
Bench: 32 reps
Production: 85 solo tackles (19.1 percent), 8 tackles for loss (14.2 percent), 3 forced fumbles (37.5 percent), 2 interceptions (10 percent), 6 pass deflections (15.7 percent)
Notes: After redshirting as a freshman, Cole started 46 straight games for the Bears with experience at both SAM and WILL. This past season, Cole led his team in tackles in nine of their 11 games.
Connor Harris, Lindenwood
Age: Unavailable
Height: 5-11
Weight: 242 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.73s
Broad Jump: 9’6″
Vertical: 33″
3-Cone: 7.13s
Shuttle: 4.31s
Bench: 18 reps
Production: 74 solo tackles (13.3 percent), 8.5 tackles for loss (13.7 percent), 1 sack (5.2 percent), 1 forced fumble (14.2 percent), 2 interceptions (12.5 percent), 3 pass deflections (5.4 percent)
Notes: Harris is a four time team captain and started all 48 games and was awarded the Cliff Harris Award for the top defender between D-II, D-III and NAIA, joining a group that includes former Lindenwood corner Pierre Desir.
Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State
Age: 20 years old (Born Nov. 17, 1996)
Height: 6-1.625
Weight: 240 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.61s
Broad Jump: 10’1″
Vertical: 33″
3-Cone: 7.15s
Shuttle: 4.39s
Bench: 23 reps
Production: 49 solo tackles (10.1 percent), 7 tackles for loss (8 percent), 2 forced fumbles (28.5 percent), 4 pass deflections (8 percent)
Notes: McMillan is a terrific athlete and his age certainly works in his favor. If he could have made a higher percentage of tackles, he’d have a case to be the top linebacker prospect.
Jayon Brown, UCLA
Age: 22 years old (Born Feb. 26, 1995)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 231 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.67s (4.56s at Pro Day)
Broad Jump: 10’4″
Vertical: 31.5″ (32.5″)
3-Cone: 7.28s
Shuttle: 4.53s
Bench: 17 reps (20 reps at Pro Day)
Production: 70 solo tackles (11.8 percent), 7 tackles for loss (10.7 percent), 2.5 sacks (10 percent), 3 interceptions (20 percent), 6 pass deflections (9.8 percent)
Notes: Brown was primarily a special teams player until becoming a starter for nine games as a junior when he took the place of the injured Myles Jack. He then went on to have a great senior during Jack’s rookie season in the NFL, earning First Team All-Pac 12 honors.
Marcus Oliver, Indiana
Age: 22 years old (Born Feb. 8, 1995)
Height: 6-0.625
Weight: 240 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.58s (Pro Day)
Broad Jump: 9’6″
Vertical: 34″
3-Cone: 6.35s
Shuttle: Unavailable
Bench: 23 reps
Production: 65 solo tackles (10.1 percent), 15.5 tackles for loss (15.9 percent), 5 forced fumbles (38.4 percent), 2 pass deflections (3.1 percent)
Notes: Oliver missed the Foster Farm’s Bowl against Utah with an unspecified “nagging injury.” He also suffered a torn ACL that ended his sophomore season, forcing him to take a medical redshirt. Oliver was a two time captain for the Hoosiers and declared for the NFL Draft as a junior.
Richie Brown Jr, Mississippi State
Age: 22 (Born April 15, 1994)
Height: 6-1.75
Weight: 237lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.63
Broad Jump: 9’8″
Vertical: 37″
3-Cone: 6.75s
Shuttle: 4.26s
Bench: 18 reps
Production: 51 solo tackles (9.9 percent), 4 tackles for loss (4.9 percent), 1.5 sacks (6 percent), 2 pass deflections (5.7 percent)
Notes: Brown’s family lost their house in Hurricane Katrina when he was 11. Graduated with a degree in Industrial Technology and has begun working on his Master’s this past season. He played in 52 games, starting 26 at middle linebacker.
Jarrad Davis, Florida
Age: Unavailable
Height: 6-1.25
Weight: 239lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.56s (Pro Day)
Broad Jump: 10’9″
Vertical: 38.5″
3-Cone: 7.39s
Shuttle: 4.29s
Bench: 23 reps
Production: 29 solo tackles (7 percent), 6 tackles for loss (7.5 percent), 4 pass deflections (9.7 percent)
Notes: Davis missed the final four games with a severely sprained ankle and, according to him, did not fully recover until February. His athleticism is outstanding, but his solo tackle market share is quite low, so there would be a small amount of faith in this selection.
Anthony Zappone, Slippery Rock
Age: 23 (Born March 2, 1994)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 244 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.63s
Broad Jump: 9’11″
Vertical: 32.5″
3-Cone: Unavailable
Shuttle: 4.12s
Bench: 22 reps
Production: 44 solo tackles (11.3 percent), 10.5 tackles for loss (13.6 percent), 5.5 sacks (17.1 percent), 1 forced fumble (16.6 percent), 5 interceptions (23.8 percent), 8 pass deflections (9.6 percent)
Notes: Started college career at Eastern Michigan where he played three seasons prior to transferring to Slippery Rock and redshirting senior season.