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Cleveland Browns got a UDFA steal in DT Trenton Thompson

By Sayre Bedinger

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass under pressure from Trenton Thompson #78 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the second quarter in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass under pressure from Trenton Thompson #78 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the second quarter in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Browns had two of the top four picks in the 2018 NFL Draft, but they got some pretty good players as UDFAs and Trenton Thompson was a steal…

Untapped potential.

Those aren’t the two words you want used to describe your collegiate career, but it’s exactly what people are saying to describe the college years of Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Trenton Thompson.

Thompson left Georgia after three seasons and unfortunately became an undrafted free agent, where he was signed by the Cleveland Browns after a star-studded draft class.

Thompson came to Georgia in 2015 as the number one ranked recruit in all of high school football by Rivals.com, a unanimous five-star selection, and one of the most coveted prospects to come out in the last five years.

Despite only playing for three seasons at Georgia, Thompson can hang his hat on a stellar 2016 season where he racked up 9.5 tackles for loss and five sacks as an interior defensive lineman, and his 15.5 career sacks overall over three seasons.

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As a sophomore in 2016, Thompson had 68 total tackles from his interior defensive line position, and looked like a stud three technique at the next level.

The Browns currently have an opening at that position with some other young, talented players like Trevon Coley, Caleb Brantley, and their stud Larry Ogunjobi.

Thompson has a chance not only to make this Browns roster, but to crack the rotation immediately.

When you watch him play, it’s clear at times why he was considered such a stellar prospect.

He is a little bit lighter for a defensive tackle at 6-foot-3, 288 pounds, but he has exceptionally long arms at 34-inches with a 5.06 second 40-yard dash.

He’s got the athletic ability and the quickness, but what I needed to see more out of Thompson was quickness off the snap.

He can finish in the backfield, especially in the passing game, and if he can get a little bit stronger in the upper body and time out the snap a little better, this is a guy who can be a force from the three technique position in the NFL.

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