CLEVELAND, Ohio — I recently did a video about how new Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson inherited five former Browns first-round picks who have had some sort of problems.
The other first-rounder still on the roster is Joe Thomas (2007), who is headed to the Hall of Fame.
I wanted to take a deeper look at the first-round picks, because this is a key part of coaching: Can you take struggling players who are still relatively young and once were highly regarded — and find meaningful roles for them on the team.
In most cases, a player picked in the first round had some ability that appealed to scouts. Being a first-round pick brings high expectations, especially to a losing team such as the Browns.
After a few years, it’s obvious some first-rounders are not going to be impact players. They may not even be full-time starters.
But can a coaching staff squeeze some value out of them?
Here’s a look at those first-rounders since 2010:
- 2010: Joe Haden: Coming off ankle surgery.
- 2011: Phil Taylor: No longer with team.
- 2012: Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson: No longer with team.
- 2013: Barkevious Mingo: Can’t find a role.
- 2014: Justin Gilbert: Still with team, lots of problems.
- 2014: Johnny Manziel: No longer with team.
- 2015: Cameron Erving and Danny Shelton: Very early in their careers.
Quick review: There have been NINE first-round picks by the Browns since 2010. Only Haden has made a Pro Bowl. Only Haden is a lock to start this season. But even Haden has a huge question mark next to his name because he’s coming off ankle surgery. It’s unclear if he’ll be ready for the season.
We can engage in the usual weeping and gnashing of teeth when talking about the Browns failures in the first round of the draft.
But a more important mission for Jackson and his coaches is salvaging something from these drafts.
ABOUT BARKEVIOUS MINGO
For example, defensive coordinator Ray Horton was with the Browns when they drafted Mingo in 2013. That season, Mingo had five sacks. He came back from having a bruised lung in the preseason after being hit on special teams.
But offensive linemen discovered Mingo had only one spin move to rush the passer, and soon they dealt with it. After five sacks as a rookie, he had two more in 2014.
Last season, Mingo played only 25 percent of the snaps on defense. He was mostly in pass coverage. No sacks, few memorable big plays. His main contribution last season was on special teams.
“We have to do something to utilize his God-given ability,” Horton said of Mingo, who was the No. 6 pick in the 2013 draft.
But what?
Mingo helped on special teams, playing 85 percent of those snaps.
The 6-foot-4 former 4-3 defensive end at LSU never fully adapted to being an outside linebacker in a 3-4 in the NFL.
Horton has said Mingo “runs like a gazelle on the field,” but a linebacker also has to hit people. He weighed only 227 at the end of last season. He supposedly is up to 250 pounds.
Future: The Browns turned down his $12 million option for 2017. No surprise there. Look at the list of other notable outside linebackers: Paul Kruger, Nate Orchard, Emmanuel Ogbah and Joe Schobert.
The team’s 2016 second-round pick, Ogbah has been impressive in minicamp. Schobert also is a rookie, he can play both inside and outside linebacker and is supposed to be strong on special teams. Kruger and Orchard would probably be considered the starters as of right now.
As Horton said about Ogbah: “Collectively we were shocked at his first individual drill at how well he’s able to move … there was a collective smile on the faces of the coaches. He is so much more athletic than what he showed on tape.”
It’s hard to see where Mingo fits.
ABOUT JUSTIN GILBERT
The Browns are saying some cautiously nice things about Gilbert.
“He has a ton of God-given ability that we as coaches have to get out,” said Horton of the No. 8 pick in the 2014 draft.
But how? And how is Gilbert’s mental approach?
I was told he’s been on time for meetings and practices this spring. He has been reasonably attentive. But it’s obvious the Browns missed something in terms of background checks on Gilbert, who was late for things in his first two seasons.
He also lacks a lot of confidence. He played only five percent of the defensive snaps last season. The Browns believe Gilbert is mentally worn down by his lack of success, and they are trying to build him up.
“He’s been sensational,” Jackson said in early June. “He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do the way we’ve asked him to do it… He’s very talented, as we all know. He’s done everything right thus far, and I’m very proud of him.”
Tramon Williams and Haden (if healthy) are expected to start at cornerback. K’Waun Williams will cover slot receivers.
Future: Before getting too excited, Gilbert has a lot to prove. That includes on the field, where he often looked lost in the little bit he did play in his first two seasons.
Gilbert will battle with Jamar Taylor, Pierre Desir, Charles Gainers and rookie Trey Caldwell for playing time.
Desir has been playing some safety. Taylor was a 2013 second-round pick by Miami who failed there. The Browns believe he’s worth another chance. Gaines and Caldwell are aggressive, low-round picks fighting for their NFL lives.
Gilbert needs that same desperate approach, something he has never shown.
I have major doubts about Gilbert, despite all the happy talk coming from Berea. This front office and coaching staff didn’t draft him. So they don’t have to make an extra effort to have him on the field to make a high pick look good.
ABOUT JOE HADEN
This is a challenge for the new Browns strength and sports science staff.
Haden is coming off a season where he played only five games. He had a broken finger, rib injuries, two concussions and a major ankle surgery on March 16.
Haden hopes to be ready for the season, but will that be the case? How will he play when he returns? Haden had a poor season in the games where he did play, as he never was healthy.
The key is not only Haden recovering from his injuries, but also staying healthy. He had no significant injuries in his first five seasons. He’s only 27, so age is not the issue. It will come down to durability.
Tramon Williams is 33. He played 92 percent of the snaps last season. A repeat is a lot to ask.
K’Waun Williams has had at least two concussions in the last two years with the Browns.
That’s why Gilbert has a far better chance to make an impact than Mingo. The Browns need depth at cornerback.
ABOUT CAMERON ERVING
I was shocked to see Erving actually played 38 percent of the snaps on the offensive line last season. It seemed much less.
But when injuries hit at the end of last season, he played a lot of guard (both right and left) in five games. In those games, he was on the field for at least 95 percent of the snaps. It was a rocky road for the rookie from Florida State.
He was the 19th pick in the 2015 draft, and selected as a center. He was insurance in case Alex Mack left via free agency. The Pro Bowl center indeed did just that, signing with Atlanta after last season.
Future: The Browns have basically handed the center job to Erving. Early reviews are positive, but no one is really blocking and tackling until real training camp starts in late July. The other center candidate is Mike Matthews, an undrafted free agent. The door is wide open for Erving to take over as the starter.
ABOUT DANNY SHELTON
As I wrote last week, weight was an even bigger issue for Shelton than most of us knew. He claims to have lost about 30 pounds, bringing him down to a weight of 335.
He was listed at 339 pounds last season, meaning he weighed more like 370. Yikes! No wonder he looked slow and tired as the season wore on.
Like Erving, he is in a spot to start. The coaches like him in the middle of the defensive line. They appreciate his positive attitude and willingness to lose the weight. He just has to keep it off.
IMPACT RATING
Here’s my list in order of how these first-rounders can help the Browns. Remember, I’m writing about the picks between 2010-15. As for 2016 first-rounder, I love what I’ve seen from Baylor receiver Corey Coleman.
1. Haden: If he’s healthy, he’s a Pro Bowl player. If not, it’s a repeat of last season. We just have to wait.
2. Shelton: He has a ton (bad pun) of ability, especially if the defensive lineman keeps in reasonable shape. I really liked the selection of Shelton last season, and the new coaching staff is high on him, too.
3. Erving: He should start. I have him third on the list because Haden and Shelton have the ability to be special. If Erving can turn into a solid starting center, that would be a major positive for the Browns. He still has to show he has the physical strength to do so.
4. Gilbert: So many issues from concentration problems off the field to simply having trouble covering receivers. He has pure physical gifts, but it takes so much more at a demanding position such as cornerback.
5. Mingo: Too much talent in front of him. I also fear he’s one of these thin 4-3 defensive ends in college who can’t convert to a 3-4 NFL linebacker.
