The Cleveland Browns have begun filling the remaining holes on the roster by turning their attention back to free agency. The team signed a veteran wide receiver, reuniting him with his former quarterback Kenny Pickett.
The Browns received some high praise for their work in the draft, as they came away with six consensus top-100 players out of their seven picks. There are always players that are impacted by a team’s draft, and Cleveland has players who are either breathing a sigh of relief or are feeling the urgency to step up their game.
Let’s take a look at players on the current roster who we deem winners or losers based on the team’s draft picks that were made over the weekend.
Winners
CB Greg Newsome
The Browns didn’t draft a cornerback during the draft despite the presumption that the number two pick overall would be Travis Hunter, who would eventually take snaps at the position. Newsome has also been rumored as a trade candidate, but not taking a young CB all but assures his place with the team for this season.
WR David Bell
Bell is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and coming off a season-ending hip injury. The Browns didn’t draft a receiver, so this probably means that he will have a real opportunity to win the slot role.
Losers
QBs Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett
The Browns stunned the NFL by selecting Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the third and fifth rounds. The team has said that they will come in to compete for the starting job. While it is possible to put all four on the roster, if the rookies play well in camp, it could mean the end of the road for either in Cleveland this year.
RB Jerome Ford
Ford may now be expendable after the selection of Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson. Both have an opportunity to leapfrog him on the depth chart during camp. Having Ford as the third RB on the depth chart gives the team excellent depth in case of injury and should allow the team to ease the two rookies into their roles.
Now, we want to hear from you. Which players do you think were impacted by what the Browns did in the draft? Let us know in the comments below.