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Browns Select TE Harrison Bryant with No. 115 pick in NFL Draft

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The Cleveland Browns selected TE Harrison Bryant with the 115th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. Raised in Georgia, Bryant is a gifted athlete who played football, basketball and baseball at the John Milledge Academy in Gray, Georgia. Originally an offensive tackle early in his high school career, Bryant converted to tight end and caught 39 passes for 608 yards and 20 TD as a senior with the Trojans. After originally committing to Samford University as a defensive end, Johnson signed as a tight end with the Florida Atlantic Owls.

Bryant saw limited playing time as a freshman at Florida Atlantic, but his potential landed him a spot on the Conference USA All-Freshman team. With 32 receptions for 408 yards and five touchdowns, Bryant earned Second-Team All-Conference USA honors as a sophomore in 2017. He increased his production as a junior, catching 45 passes for 662 yards and four scores, to earn first team All-Conference USA honors, an achievement he would duplicate as a senior.

During an outstanding final year with the Owls, Johnson hauled in 65 receptions for 1,004 yards and 7 touchdowns. He earned First-Team All-American honors and won the John Mackey Award as the best tight end in college football. Bryant became just the fourth Florida Atlantic player to surpass 1,000 yards in a single season and finished his career with 148 receptions for 2,137 yards and 16 touchdowns. Bryant has the size (6-foot-5, 243 pounds) and skills to eventually be a full-time starter in the NFL.

Here’s why Shawn Childs ranked Bryant as his No. 1 tight end:

Overall, his speed (4.73) is about average for an NFL tight end. He does need to get stronger (13 reps in the bench press at the NFL combine). Bryant runs good routes with an excellent feel for the game. I expect him to do his pregame prep while striving to become a better player. Bryant has experience at offensive tackle, which is a big win for his blocking ability. Despite needing to add some bulk, he grades well as a blocking option due to his career path and foundation skill set. His most significant issue in this area will come when faced with straight on power rushers.

2019 stats (Senior; Florida Atlantic): 1,004 receiving yards, 7 touchdowns (13 games)

2018 stats (Junior; Florida Atlantic): 662 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns (12 games)

2017 stats (Sophomore; Florida Atlantic): 408 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns (10 games)

2016 stats (Freshman; Florida Atlantic): 63 receiving yards (6 games)

Cleveland Browns stats to know

  • Baker Mayfield allowed the second-most interceptions (21) in the league while failing to gain his expected momentum in completion rate (59.4 – 68.5 percent in his college career).
  • Nick Chubb slipped to second in the NFL in rushing yards (1,494) in 2019 after coming up short in Week 16 (15/45) and Week 17 (13/41). He led the RB position in runs over 20 yards (11).
  • Last year Odell Beckham scored a career-low 12.69 fantasy points per game, which ranked 25th on the NFL. His catch rate (55.6) is well below his rookie season (70.0) while ranking at the bottom of his career average.
  • The Browns’ TEs finished 30th in catches (41) and 26th in receiving yards (497), but they did score eight touchdowns (5th).
  • Cleveland’s defense gave up the third-most rushing yards (2,318) with runners gaining 5.00 yards per carry (30th). 

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