Monday leftovers

Gonna get a little personal with the first item. Last May 1, I wrote the following piece summarizing the Browns selections in the National Football League college draft in downtown Cleveland.

"The final grade will be divided into two parts. The first two picks and the last six. They were so diametrically different.

"The first two selections without question were dynamite. I can't put enough plusses next to the A.

"Everything else is a disappointing fail. I wouldn't be surprised if one or two fail to make the final roster. Awarding a C- is being extremely generous.

"The finish wasn't nearly as strong as the start. Overall grade: C+."

Grading the draft is fun, but somewhat nonsensical because none of the players selected have played a game of professional football. Grading it accurately will not be known for at least a couple of seasons. 

But now that all but one of the eight young men chosen by General Manager Andrew Berry and his staff have displayed their talents on the pro level, even though they were meaningless exhibitions, I'm here now to correct (regrade?) the initial findings.

There is no question cornerback Greg Newsome II and linebacker/safety Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah were grand slams with the first two picks. Thus the A+++++++. It's that "disappointing fail" and subsequent C-that requires another look. Most notably the fifth and sixth rounds.

Two picks -- fifth-round safety Richard LeCounte III and sixth-round running back/wide receiver Demetric Felton -- have shown quickly they belong. Both have earned -- and are certain to get -- a lot of playing time this season.

Felton adds yet another dimension on offense. Makes no difference whether it's as a running back or receiver. He makes things happen. He reminds quite a bit of Duke Johnson Jr., who for four seasons was one of the few playmakers for the Browns in the lean years.

Both are 5-9, but Johnson, now a free agent, is about 20 pounds heavier. One thing is certain, though. Felton is not going to supplant Nick Chubb or Kareem Hunt at running back nor Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry at receiver. 

But creative playcalling by head coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt can take advantage of his unique qualities and skills and put him is certain sub packages that will get him as many as 15-20 snaps a game and make that sixth-round pick a steal.

LeCounte has taken advantage of injuries to Grant Delpit, Sheldrick Redwine and Ronnie Harrison Jr. to log 111 snaps in the three games, recording both of the club's interceptions. He overcomes his smallish size for a strong safety (5-11, 192 pounds) with a knack for being around the football. He owns the only two exhibition interceptions.

He also has shown a propensity for making solid tackles, a trait that was missing last season in the deep secondary. Even though Harrison is back, it looks as though LeCounte, who also has stood out on special teams, has earned a shot at being included in many of defensive coordinator Joe Woods' numerous packages.

As for the other four picks -- wide receiver Anthony Schwartz, offensive tackle James Hudson III, linebacker Tony Fields II and defensive tackle Tommy Togiai, the jury remains unconvinced. 

Schwartz made his debut in the Falcons victory Sunday night, catching one short pass and drawing a pass interference in 19 snaps. Hudson is raw. Makes no difference whether it's on the right or left side, although he looked better on the left. He appears to lumber rather than looking smooth. He's raw with lots of time to improve.

A foot injury has kept Fields under wraps throughout raining camp and the exhibitions. Grade him incomplete. And Togiai, whose forte at Ohio State was penetration, has found the NFL more challenging. 

So . . .  Because of Felton and LeCounte, change the grade for rounds 3-6 to a B- from a C-. And the overall grade becomes a straight B from a C+.

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Could there be a second chance for Kyle Markway with the Browns? The tight end, who spent all of last season on the practice squad and was let go earlier this year, returned a few days ago after being released by the Los Angeles Rams. 

The club's tight ends corps has been reduced to just three with Stephen Carlson on injured reserve. It will be interesting to see if the club, which uses tight ends liberally in a Stefanski offense, chooses to stick with three or expand.

Markway and Jordan Franks stood out in the Falcons victory, combining for nine receptions on 14 targets and 99 of the club's 372 passing yards. Each displayed good hands and a willingness to block. Both are 6-4, but Markway outweighs Franks by about 25 pounds.

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He probably won't make the final count, but if the Browns have trouble on the edge this season, keep an eye on Cameron Malveaux if he is placed on the practice squad. Cleveland is the third NFL stop for the 6-6, 265-pounder, who had half of the Browns' four sacks against Atlanta and hit the quarterback three times.

Last season, Malveaux came off the practice squad when COVID-19 struck down Myles Garrett and played well in weeks 11 and 12 in victories over Philadelphia and Jacksonville with four solo tackles and a forced fumble. 

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If there is one area of some concern for Stefanski, red-zone ineptitude qualifies, at least in the exhibitions. The offense was four for 13 inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Granted Case Keenum and Kyle Lauletta were the quarterbacks for the most part, and the starting offensive line, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt were on the bench,  as well as the top receivers.

Still, when you get inside the other team's 10-yard line, good teams usually find a way to get into the end zone. Yes, even in the meaningless exhibitions. Establishing ownership at that end of the field can't be important enough.

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Finally . . . If Malik McDowell doesn't make the final cut, there should be an investigation. The huge defensive tackle has played 44 snaps in the last two exhibitions after sitting out the opener and almost singlehandedly choked off the running game. In that limited time, he has racked up seven tackles, a sack and a half and three quarterback hits.  . . . The Browns outscored opponents, 59-36, in exhibitions. Of the 36 points the defense allowed, 26 came in the final quarter. Only10 points allowed in the first three quarters of each game. Not sure what that means, but it sure sounds impressive.