Cleveland Browns: Grading the 2020 NFL Draft class, pick-by-pick analysis
Pick Analysis. Offensive Tackle. Jedrick Wills Jr.. 53. Positional Ranking and Analysis. 1. player. Alabama
Draft Grade: A
The first round need for the Cleveland Browns in the 2020 NFL Draft was clear. They needed to land a starting left tackle. GM Andrew Berry went out and did just that with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Despite many rumblings about the Cleveland Browns possibly trading down in the first round and acquiring more draft picks, but the way things played out, Jedrick Wills Jr. was still on the board, making it a no-brainer.
The Cleveland Browns had to be delightfully surprised that Wills was still on the board at pick 10. Many evaluators viewed Wills as the top offensive line prospect atop a very impressive class at the position. Even though he played right tackle at Alabama, Wills will be the starting left tackle for the Cleveland Browns from day one.
Wills played right tackle because he would then protect the blindside of his left-handed quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, not because he was unable to play on the left side. He was the best true pass protector in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Using a combination of great vision and awareness, powerful hands and core, and sound footwork and hand placement, Wills displayed some incredibly effective and consistent pass-block sets. He certainly has the footwork to play left tackle and should be able to protect Baker Mayfield’s blindside very well for the Cleveland Browns.
As a part of head coach Kevin Stefanski’s zone run game, Wills has the movement ability desired, backed up by an impressive 5.05 40-yard dash time at the combine. Wills can be a real people mover in the run game, using those strong hands and powerful base to lock in and drive defenders back or turn them against their will to open up rushing lanes.
Overall, this was a home run pick for Berry, Stefanski and the Cleveland Browns. Jedrick Wills Jr. was one of the safest and solid prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft with a very high floor, but still possessing a sky-high ceiling.
An A+ pick for me would have been a guy like Georgia’s Andrew Thomas who has experience on the left side. While the transition to the left side will be a bit of a challenge, it isn’t anything Wills can’t handle. With Thomas off the board, this was the clear choice for the Browns and they made the smart decision to take him.