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Cleveland Browns: John Dorsey’s 5 worst player additions

By Peter Smith

NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 16: General Manager of the Cleveland Browns John Dorsey on the sidelines before the start of the game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 16, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 16: General Manager of the Cleveland Browns John Dorsey on the sidelines before the start of the game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 16, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI GARDENS, FL – NOVEMBER 18: Chad Thomas #9 of the Miami Hurricanes looks on after winning a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Hard Rock Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – NOVEMBER 18: Chad Thomas #9 of the Miami Hurricanes looks on after winning a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Hard Rock Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

2. Drafting Chad Thomas 67th overall

It’s easy for people to say the Browns just missed on a third-round pick, except that this started as a second round pick. In fact, the Browns were ready to pick Chad Thomas 64th overall before a trade opportunity came up, allowing them to move back a few spots and gain an additional pick. That additional pick that allowed them to trade up for Antonio Callaway is the only thing this selection has produced to this point.

Chad Thomas can’t play dead and, if not for the fact he was drafted as early as he was, he wouldn’t have made the final roster. Thomas isn’t just the worst player on the Browns 53-man roster, but he was near the bottom when it was a 90-man roster. He was hurt for most of training camp, recovering from surgery to repair a sports hernia, but his play in the camp he was able to participate in as well as preseason was abysmal. Thomas was dominated by backups of other teams that weren’t going to make the team.

To this point, Chad Thomas has played 22 snaps for a team that needs help from its defensive depth and he has yet to record a stat — not even an assist on a tackle. Thomas was kept in favor of a guy like Carl Nassib, who may not be a stud, but could at least contribute to the team’s defense.

Given his lack of production and athletic traits coming out of Miami (FL), this was foreseeable. Even the way they tried to sell the pick when it was made was curious. He was sold as a big bodied run stopper, which given the nature of the NFL and what the Browns already had on their roster, bewildering. The Browns were one of the best run stopping teams in the league the previous season and needed pass rushing help, which Thomas doesn’t add.

And this season when the Browns run defense has dropped off dramatically, Thomas still can’t help them. Projecting forward, the Browns need a miracle out of Thomas heading into next season because they need to continue addressing the defensive line and adding more talent and there’s a real possibility that Thomas won’t make the final roster in 2019.

This selection has been nothing short of a disaster with little hope in sight and plenty of options foregone the Browns could be using right now, including (but not limited to) Harrison Phillips, now with the Buffalo Bills, and Michael Gallup with the Dallas Cowboys.

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