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2020 NFL Draft

Post-draft power rankings: Browns remain in upper third of league

We're past the draft, and 254 prospects are now players on new teams.

That's a lot of turnover in a short period of time. As such, publications far and wide tend to release a fresh batch of power rankings after the tornado that is the NFL draft is complete.

Let's take a look at those rankings, which vary in methodology and aren't as plentiful, but should help give us a good feel for how the league views the Browns as we enter May.

Greedy Williams is a Cleveland Brown. Take a look at photos of the LSU cornerback, whom the Browns selected 46th overall Friday in the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Browns have landed as high as 7th in B/R's rankings and are just a spot shy of that after a draft that saw them secure first-round talent Greedy Williams in the middle of the second round. That, plus general manager John Dorsey's assortment of roster-shaping moves have them solidified at No. 8 as we head toward the summer.

Quote of note: "Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey is trying to set a speed record for turning an NFL tomato can into a contender."

The Browns moved back just one spot after a draft in which they didn't have a first-round pick. What a refreshing sequence for a team and region that has for so long depended on the draft to inject optimism into the offseason outlook.

Quote of note: "Even without a first-round pick (spent for Odell Beckham Jr.), they managed to draft players who could make immediate contributions in 2019."

View photos of BYU linebacker Sione Takitaki, whom the Browns selected with the 80th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Harrison called Cleveland's draft "quiet" but pointed out that this time around, it's not solely about adding young players who will be expected to carry the team. A one-spot drop is the result, but that is a negligible difference on May 1.

Quote of note: "The Browns are strong enough to reach six wins by midseason. Don't freak out about the slight drop, as this year in Cleveland is not about the draft."

Brugler's rankings are specifically about the strength of the class, not the team as a whole. As such, the Browns' absence of a first-round pick made it an uphill battle for this exercise. Brugler admitted as much in his explanation but applauded the selection of Williams and said Forbes possesses "all the mental and physical ingredients ... for him to develop into a quality NFL guard."

Quote of note: "Without a first-round pick, it was going to be tough for the Browns to crack the top 20, but landing Williams in the second round was an impressive first pick."

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