Ezra Cleveland is an alternative for the Browns if they trade down or use a later pick on a left tackle. (Idaho Statesman)
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
It’s hard to imagine the Browns choosing an offensive tackle in the draft beyond the Fab Four of Tristan Wirfs of Iowa, Andrew Thomas of Georgia, Mekhi Becton of Louisville and Jedrick Wills of Alabama.
But the name Ezra Cleveland is gaining traction as an alternative for Cleveland.
And beyond the coincidental surname, there is another connection to the Browns. It so happens that Cleveland’s position coach at Boise State was Brad Bedell, a guard from Colorado who was a sixth-round choice of the Browns in the 2000 draft.
Bedell, for one, believes the gap from the Tier 1 tackles to Cleveland is not as wide as commonly believed.
“His work ethic and wanting to be the best is really one of the best I’ve ever been around,” Bedell said on Countdown to the Draft on 850 ESPN Cleveland. “The blue-collar work ethic just fits in with Cleveland. It’s just a perfect fit. Athletically, I think he’s one of the better tackles in this draft. Those two things are really going to make him a good pro.”
Mobile and agile
Cleveland made 40 starts at left tackle in three years at Boise State, earning All-Mountain West Conference his last two seasons. He came out after his junior year and was considered a third-round projection until he put on a show at the NFL Combine in the long shadows of Wirfs and Becton.
At 6-6 and 311 pounds, Cleveland clocked 4.93 in the 40 and his 1.73 time in the 10-yard split rivaled that of Wirfs. Those times solidified Cleveland as a fit in the zone-blocking scheme being installed by new Browns coach Kevin Stefanski.
“One of the strengths of his game is his athleticism. The zone is a great fit for him,” Bedell said.
What kept Cleveland from being included in the top tier?
Competition was a factor. The Mountain West is not a Power Five conference, though it has produced its share of high picks. Joel Bitonio of Nevada and Austin Corbett of Nevada were Browns high second-round picks in 2014 and 2018, respectively.
The scouting concerns about Cleveland center on a perceived lack of functional strength, upper body mass and inability to finish blocks in the run game. Cleveland’s decent Combine performance of 30 reps in the bench press at 225 pounds belie what coaches see on game tape.
“Legitimate gripe? Sure. But is it a problem? Absolutely not,” Bedell said of Cleveland’s strength at the point of attack. “One thing he’ll work on and get better at -- and I wish I had more time with him during a season – [is] I think his pad level. Once he lowers that, he’s explosive. He’s an explosive human being. His hand placement is phenomenal. His recovery in the run game is great.
“Is [the criticism] legitimate? I’m not going to say everybody’s wrong. That’s their opinion. My opinion is he’s explosive, he’s very strong, and with the athletic ability he possesses, that’s why I think he’s ready to go and be a phenomenal football player. Ezra’s going to come in and work hard and prove everybody that is saying that is wrong.”
The dots to Cleveland
Recently, Dane Brugler of the Athletic and Peter King of NBC Sports informed their readers of interest in Cleveland – from Cleveland.
But he seems to be more of a contingency plan in the event the Browns use the No. 10 pick on a position other than offensive tackle or they trade down to collect an extra pick. Both draft value trade charts – the outdated one created by Jimmy Johnson in the 1990s and the analytics-driven replacement – estimate a third-round pick as the compensation for the Browns trading down from No. 10 in the first round, depending on how far they go.
It’s speculated that Cleveland could be taken in the lower third of the first round to the upper third in the second round – anywhere between 25 to 35. The Browns own the 41st overall pick in the second round.
A source said Browns GM Andrew Berry particularly has taken a liking to Cleveland. Bedell said the Browns have Zoom-conferenced Cleveland, but he was not sure who was his big advocate in the organization.
Bedell said three things stand out about Cleveland that will make him successful at the NFL level.
“Number one is hand placement. Two is his change of direction. And three is his knowledge of the game,” Bedell said. “Then you put him in a meeting room, he’s very business-like, he’s a great leader. He does a real nice job of everything. I’m excited for him.”
Listen here to the full interview with Brad Bedell about Ezra Cleveland from Countdown to the Draft.