Cleveland Browns: 7-Round 2019 mock draft, Vol. 2
By Peter Smith
Round 6: Olamide Zaccheaus, RB, Virginia – 5-8, 190 lbs. (Listed)
- 42 carries for 255 yards and a touchdown. 168 receptions for 1,853 yards (32 percent) and 11 touchdowns (39.2 percent) in 2017 and 2018.
There’s been plenty of talk about how John Dorsey will want to find his Tyreek Hill in Cleveland, which isn’t realistic. Nevertheless, if he likes undersized, overpowered players that excel in space, Olamide Zaccheaus will be a player to keep an eye on in the draft process.
Players like Marquise Brown and Parris Campbell have been brought up and Brown is a great looking prospect, but in terms of production and value, Zaccheaus offers a great deal. He’s been called a running back, but he has only carried the ball 42 times the past two seasons. Zaccheaus may line up in the backfield at times, but he lines up just about anywhere. They just look for ways to create opportunities to get the ball in his hands in favorable situations and he makes the most of them.
In spite or perhaps because of his small stature, Zaccheaus is difficult to bring down in the open field. He’s low to the ground, has great balance and takes full advantage of his leverage to maximize his power. Between that and his electric ability, he is someone that is always a threat to break a big play and potentially score. Like Stanley Morgan, Zacccheaus hasn’t had a game without a catch since his freshman year.
Zaccheaus would have his work cut out for him to make the team, but he’s someone that could end up on the practice squad. What helps him is he could take a running back or receiver spot on the depth chart, but it won’t be easy. If he shows the same kind of spark in training camp as he has throughout his college career, he may simply be too valuable to get rid of and the offense will find ways to get him involved not unlike the Chicago Bears have with Tarik Cohen.
Zaccheaus could certainly find his way into being a full time slot receiver, but his versatility and ability to play anywhere like Duke Johnson could be very attractive to the Browns.