Cleveland Browns: 2019 7-Round mock draft, Vol. 3

Round 1: Jachai Polite, DE, Florida – 6-2, 242 lbs. (Listed)

•  27 solo tackles (6.5 percent), 17.5 tackles for loss (20.3 percent), 11 sacks (29.7 percent), 6 forced fumbles and 4 pass deflections in 2018.

Jachai Polite was one of the biggest breakout players in the country this season. He lived in opposing backfields all year, causing all kinds of havoc. His brand of speed and explosion off the edge is easy to like, causes nightmares for quarterbacks and always has a place in the NFL.

At his best, Polite is flying off the ball like a whirling dervish, using speed, change of direction and will to find the ball and disrupt plays. Inside, outside or some of both on the same play, he just plays with his hair on fire and is relentless. His first step is tremendous and his closing speed is outstanding when he attacks ball carriers, even flashing the ability to chase down run plays from behind.

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The problem with Polite is when he’s flying off the ball, it can create run lanes that get exploited behind him. And when the guy next to him is playing at a different speed than he is, those holes can become massive.

Polite will also play where he tries to read and react. He doesn’t look to be nearly as comfortable doing this and though he can chase down plays, he also makes it far easier for opponents to get to him and block him out from the play.

Not weak, Polite’s lack of heft can get him blocked out and it’s that much easier to accomplish when he’s relatively still reading the play. At this point, he’s far more effective attacking up field, reacting to what he sees and reacting appropriately, which can even be spinning back up field and trying to close the hole or chase down the play. Polite is pretty good when it comes to dropping too, particularly when he’s asked to step out and cover the flat.

Polite’s hand use isn’t bad, but it needs to get better as staying out of blocks is key for him. He’s got good hip bend and can change directions quickly and has a really nice spin move that allows him to give opponents fits. When he gets an opportunity to put a hit on the quarterback, he doesn’t often miss and targets the football, trying to knock it out as he secures the tackle.

The biggest thing for Polite is going to be determining just how tall he is and how much he weighs. 242 is too small, so presumably he’s been trying to add weight and will be heavier for athletic testing, so he’s going to need to maintain what appear to be elite athletic traits in terms of speed, explosion and bend.

For the Browns in particular, Polite could come in, have an outstanding camp and lock down a starting edge spot, moving Emmanuel Ogbah inside on a more permanent basis. More likely, Polite looks like he ends up being a regular in nickel, playing on both sides, and they just let him loose so he can cause havoc with his speed. Shooting the gap or rushing up the field, he could rack up impact plays as a rookie even if other players are a major reason he’s getting the production.

Theoretically, the Browns could slide Myles Garrett and Ogbah inside in obvious passing situations with Polite and Genard Avery coming off the edges. The mix of speed and power could cause significant stress on opposing quarterbacks and generate more turnover opportunities.