Round 5: Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama
Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson falling to the fifth round was one of the more surprising acts of the draft, and for the Browns to snag him there is quite the value pick. In the big board referenced, Wilson was not a top-50 player and came in at the fourth-ranked linebacker with a third round grade.
However, Minnesota linebacker Blake Cashman was still on my board, who was a top-50 player and the third-ranked linebacker. Cashman is more athletic, more productive, and has better film than Wilson, so to see the Browns pass on him in favor of Wilson was a bit disappointing.
With pick 155 in the 2019 NFL Draft, the #Browns select Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama.
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 27, 2019
Mack Wilson posted a Okay #RAS with Okay size, Okay speed, Okay explosiveness, Poor agility at the LB position. pic.twitter.com/LCO0B0j8pC
Wilson only tallied 33 solo tackles in his junior year, despite playing behind a stellar defensive front; he recorded only 21 solo tackles the year before. In 2018, Wilson managed to record four and a half tackles behind the line of scrimmage, one sack, and two picks.
Known as one of the better linebackers in pass coverage, Wilson has tallied a career total of six interceptions in two years as the starter for the Crimson Tide. The Browns saw something in Wilson to take him over Cashman, but on paper, it seems like a mistake. Regardless, getting Wilson in the fifth round is fantastic value for Dorsey and company.
Grade: B