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2021 NFL Draft grades for every team: Browns and Bears crush it, Cowboys flop

By Cody Williams

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 29: Mya Tomoto stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after announcing Greg Newsome II as the 26th pick by the Cleveland Browns during round one of the 2021 NFL Draft at the Great Lakes Science Center on April 29, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 29: Mya Tomoto stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after announcing Greg Newsome II as the 26th pick by the Cleveland Browns during round one of the 2021 NFL Draft at the Great Lakes Science Center on April 29, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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2021 NFL Draft grades
Cincinnati Bengals, Ja’Marr Chase, 2021 NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Cincinnati Bengals 2021 NFL Draft Grade: C+

  • Round 1, Pick 5: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
  • Round 2, Pick 46: Jackson Carman, OT, Clemson
  • Round 3, Pick 69: Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas
  • Round 4, Pick 111: Cameron Sample, EDGE, Tulane
  • Round 4, Pick 122: Tyler Shelvin, IDL, LSU
  • Round 4, Pick 139: D’Ante Smith, OT, East Carolina
  • Round 5, Pick 149: Evan McPherson, K, Florida
  • Round 6, Pick 190: Trey Hill, IOL, Georgia
  • Round 6, Pick 202: Chris Evans, RB, Michigan
  • Round 7, Pick 235: Wyatt Hubert, EDGE, Kansas State

When you look at the overall talent pool that the Bengals added, it’s not bad. There are players fans in Cincinnati should be excited about and who will play key roles for the team, especially on defense. However, this grade really comes down to what they did in the first and second round, which I believe was a botch.

Ja’Marr Chase is a great player and will continue to be great with Joe Burrow. But passing up on Penei Sewell to make that selection given the state of the offensive line is jarring. To make that worse, they then traded out of a run on tackles that could’ve made up for that early in Round 2 so they could reach on Jackson Carman. That’s bad value and team-building, which I can’t be in on.

Cleveland Browns 2021 NFL Draft Grade: A+

  • Round 1, Pick 26: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
  • Round 2, Pick 52: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
  • Round 3, Pick 91: Anthony Schwartz, WR, Auburn
  • Round 4, Pick 110: James Hudson, OT, Cincinnati
  • Round 4, Pick 132: Tommy Togiai, IDL, Ohio State
  • Round 5, Pick 153: Tony Fields II, LB, West Virginia
  • Round 5, Pick 169: Richard LeCounte III, S, Georgia
  • Round 6, Pick 211: Demetric Felton, WR, UCLA

Bar none, the Cleveland Browns came away with the best class in the 2021 NFL Draft and you won’t convince me otherwise. They landed a Day 1 starter at cornerback with Greg Newsome II in the first round, another defensive starter with unreal value as a second-round pick in the ultra-versatile Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and continued to find weapons.

It might have been a bit of a reach on Anthony Schwartz but, given his speed and the fact that he’s still just 20 years old, that’s the type of player you reach on in the 90s. The Browns also could’ve added EDGE depth but they’re fine for 2021. This is a draft class that could legitimately take them from playoff team to viable contender.

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