Based on the early results, general manager Andrew Berry nailed his first two picks in the 2021draft.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II, the No. 26 selection, and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, the 52nd pick after a trade up, were selected to the All-Rookie team by the Pro Football Writers of America on Tuesday.
They were joined by sixth-round receiver/running back Demetric Felton, who was chosen as the punt returner. The Browns joined the Chiefs and Dolphins with a league-high three selections.
Myles Garrett, Joel Bitonio, Nick Chubb picked for PFWA All-NFL team
Newsome, who went to Northwestern, started 11 of 12 games played with nine passes defensed and 37 tackles. He was a Week 1 starter and played well despite teams targeting him often. He missed two games in October with a calf injury and three in December with a concussion and on the COVID-19 reserve list.
Owusu-Koramoah was drafted out of Notre Dame. He started 10 of 14 games, totaling 76 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, four passes defensed, three tackles for loss and four quarterback hits. He missed three games at midseason with a high ankle sprain.
He consistently showed the speed the Browns coveted, whether it was in coverage, as a blitzer or chasing down a running back.
Felton was the No. 211 pick out of UCLA. He returned 32 punts with a 7.1 average.
Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons was chosen as Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year after a rookie-best 13 sacks and a league-high-tying 20 tackles for loss. Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase was Offensive Rookie of the Year. He had 13 touchdowns and 1,455 receiving yards, the most by a rookie in the Super Bowl era.
Mailbag: When was the last time the Browns drafted a really good receiver?
MOVING ALONG?
Browns vice president of football operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has emerged as the favorite to be hired as general manager of the Vikings, according to multiple reports.
He was reportedly a finalist along with Kansas City’s Ryan Poles, who was picked as GM of the Bears on Tuesday, per reports. Adofo-Mensah is reportedly meeting with the Vikings for the second time.
Adofo-Mensah is in his second year with the Browns and ninth in the NFL after working as a portfolio manager. He works with Berry on all roster and strategic football decisions and the day-to-day operations of the team.
Adofo-Mensah worked with the 49ers from 2013-19 in the football research and development department, finishing his tenure as director of the department. He played basketball at Princeton and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. He got his master’s in economics from Stanford.
Adofo-Mensah also interviewed for the GM job with the Bears. Browns vice president of player personnel Glenn Cook also interviewed with the Bears and Vikings.
The Browns would receive a third-round compensatory draft pick in each of the next two years if Adofo-Mensah is hired, as part of the NFL’s plan to reward organizations for developing minority coaches and front office personnel. The rule was passed in November 2020.
