Grading the Cleveland Browns' 2020 draft class: Three years in and still lots of questions

BEREA — You never forget your first.

It's hard to forget Andrew Berry's first draft as Browns general manager. For one thing, it may have been the most unique draft in the history of the NFL thanks to the COVID pandemic forcing the entire event to go virtual.

Beyond that, it was unforgettable because it was the first opportunity to see what the entirely new — at the time — pairing of Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski would do to put its stamp on the roster. In the moment, what happened drew mostly positive reviews.

Grading Browns' 2021 offseason moves:Good Jadeveon Clowney, defensive tackle help

Grading Browns' 2021 draft class:Greg Newsome II, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah saving day

Grading Browns' 2022 offseason moves:'A' for Amari Cooper, waiting on Deshaun Watson

Grading Browns' 2022 draft class:No A's but optimism with rookies' early production

Three years later, the six players who comprised the 2020 draft class for the Browns are among the most recognizable names on the roster, as would be expected from a collection of players who will be in their fourth season in 2023. However, for some, the bloom has come off the rose, so to speak, with the benefit of years of NFL experience.

As we continue to grade Berry's moves as general manager, it's time to assess his first draft class now that it's coming up on a contract year for virtually all of them. The one potential exception, though, is where the assessment will begin.

Round 1, pick 10: Jedrick Wills Jr., offensive tackle

This was a very good offensive tackle draft, especially at the top of the first round. With now-Hall of Famer Joe Thomas having been out of the league for two seasons, the Browns always were expected to target tackle. By the time they were on the clock, the big three remaining were Wills out of Alabama, Mekhi Becton out of Louisville and Tristan Wirfs out of Iowa. Berry chose Wills, who had played right tackle as the blind-side blocker for Tua Tagovailoa with the Crimson Tide. The first part of Wills' transition to the NFL was a transition to left tackle, a position he had never played prior to making the league. After a solid rookie season starting for an 11-win playoff team, injuries hampered him throughout his second season. Wills didn't miss a game in his third season, which was a mixed bag of results for him. However, the Browns actually believe it was his best season of the three, which is important for Wills' immediate and long-term future. The team has until May 1 to pick up his fifth-year option — which would keep him on the roster through 2024 — and contemplate the very real possibility of a long-term extension.

Grade: B-minus

Round 2, pick 44: Grant Delpit, safety

Meet the enigma of the draft class, maybe even more than Wills. Delpit never got a rookie season in the truest sense due to an Achilles tear in training camp that cost him the entire 2020 season. That essentially made the 2021 season the LSU product's "rookie" season. Delpit played in 15 games that year, starting seven, while showing signs of growth as the season went along. However, his 2022 season was a rocky one, especially over the first half. Delpit was often seen, rightly or wrongly, as one of biggest culprits in the Browns' early season struggles with coverage breakdowns. Still, there was no doubt there was a definite improvement as the season went into its latter stages. Delpit had a two-interception game in Week 17 at Washington, and finished the season with four picks and 10 passes defensed. He also had 105 total tackles, including 72 solo stops. The way Delpit finished this past season, coupled with the arrival of new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, puts a lot of onus on him as he heads into the final year of his rookie deal.

Grade: C-plus

Round 3, pick 88: Jordan Elliott, defensive tackle

The defensive tackle out of Missouri remains one of the big mysteries of the draft class. It's not that Elliott hasn't played a lot, because he's played in 49 out of possible 50 regular-season games over his first three years, including starting all 17 in 2022. The mystery for Elliott is that, despite all of that playing time, it remains a case of, to quote the nickname of his college's home state, "Show me." The Browns expected to see a step forward out of Elliott in 2022. In fact, he was one of those most mentioned by his coaches and teammates during training camp as a breakout player for the season. Instead, Elliott was part of arguably the most underachieving position group on the Browns. He did record two sacks and five tackles for loss, but was also regularly beaten at the point of attack as opposing offenses ran at will on the Browns. Can Schwartz, whose scheme plays to defensive linemen's strengths, unlock Elliott in a contract season? We'll see.

Grade: D-plus

Round 3, pick 97: Jacob Phillips, linebacker

If this was grading a player on their personality, it would be an "A." No one questions whether or not Phillips is a nice guy. The problem for the LSU product is that the grade is for what he's done on the field, not off it. The problem for Phillips is that injuries have kept him off the field so much over his first three seasons, limiting him to just 20 out of possible 50 regular-season games. That includes missing the final 10 games last season after suffering a torn pectoral muscle. On the field, the Browns hoped they were getting a third-round version of Phillips' LSU teammate, Patrick Queen. Phillips hasn't remotely shown that potential when he's had his opportunities, such as the four games he started in Anthony Walker Jr.'s place before his own season-ending injury in Week 7. No one may be looking forward to a fresh start under a new defensive coordinator more than Phillips.

Grade: D

Round 4, pick 115: Harrison Bryant, tight end

Bryant was the John Mackey Award winner in his final season at Florida Atlantic. Since coming to the Browns, though, he's been a clear No. 2 to another south Florida college product, David Njoku. That's not necessarily a negative for the one they call "Harry," seeing as Njoku was a first-round pick in 2017 who is coming off arguably his best season in 2022. Bryant has been more than serviceable in his three seasons, and he's coming off a career-best 31 catches for 239 yards this past season. Bryant will never be mistaken for Travis Kelce or any of the elite tight ends in the league. However, it's hard to call a day-three pick who's mostly been available and made the catches when the ball's thrown his way a "bust" by any stretch.

Grade: B-minus

Round 5, pick 160: Nick Harris, center

Talk about terrible luck and timing. Harris was poised going into training camp last summer to take over the starting center position after two years as JC Tretter's understudy, along with being a steady backup interior lineman. Everything was progressing toward that outcome for the University of Washington product. Then Aug. 12, 2022, happened and it all derailed. Harris suffered a season-ending knee injury on the second play of the preseason opener at Jacksonville. While he spent the season recovering from the injury, Ethan Pocic — signed to a one-year deal in the spring — stepped in and played like one would expect a multi-year veteran starter to play. Harris' future may very well be tied to whether or not the Browns and Pocic can come to an agreement on a long-term deal this offseason. If they can, then Harris may be relegated back to being an understudy.

Grade: C

Round 6, pick 187: Donovan Peoples-Jones, wide receiver

You could make the argument that Berry's best draft pick over his first three drafts is the sixth-round receiver from the University of Michigan. Peoples-Jones flashed potential in his rookie season. However, the second year for him was up-and-down, even though he caught 34 passes for 597 yards. That made the 2022 season a big one in terms of narrative, especially considering the questions the Browns had behind Amari Cooper at receiver. Peoples-Jones saw those questions and provided at least a bit of an answer. He was clearly the No. 2 receiver behind Cooper, and was as involved in the passing game as he had been throughout his pro career to this point. He was targeted 96 times, catching 61 passes for 839 yards. It's the kind of progress that gives the Browns hope for a more stable passing game in 2023, especially coupled with a healthy Cooper, a full season of Deshaun Watson and possibly an additional receiver acquired between now and June.

Grade: A, if only for production relative to where he was picked

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Three years in, still questions for Browns 2020 draft class