On Thursday night, the Cleveland Browns selected Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
And as the grades for the first round pour in, it hasn't been hard to find praise for Cleveland's pick, with many experts and analysts giving the Browns high marks for the selection.
Here's what they're saying:
"How about the Browns' upgrade at offensive tackle over the past two months? They signed right tackle Jack Conklin to a big deal in free agency, and now they have secured my top-ranked tackle in this draft. Wills played on the right side for the Crimson Tide, but he is going to move to left tackle in Cleveland. He was the key to the Tide's run game -- Alabama averaged 7.7 yards per rush outside the right tackle in 2019, which was third in FBS -- and he is great as a pass-protector, as he allowed just one sack all season. With massive upgrades along his offensive line and dynamic players around him, Baker Mayfield will have no excuses in 2020."
"Cleveland had a choice between OTs Mekhi Becton, Jedrick Wills and Tristan Wirfs at No. 10 overall. They went with Wills, who played right tackle at Alabama, but will likely make the shift to the left side with veteran right tackle Jack Conklin in the fold. Wills has the quickness and nastiness to play anywhere, and he really improved over the last year."
"The Browns must have been thrilled: The Giants’ surprising selection of Georgia’s Andrew Thomas and the top three quarterbacks getting snatched up in the first six picks left the man they likely had at the top of their board still available at pick No. 10. Wills played right tackle at Alabama but has the light feet and athleticism to transition smoothly to the left side. That would allow expensive free agent pickup Jack Conklin to stay at right tackle, where it took him four years to locate a comfortable set of mechanics as a Titan. In today’s NFL, the delineation between left and right tackles means very little (if anything), so the Browns can base these decisions strictly on what’s best for their two players."
"The Browns get exactly what they needed, an elite tackle to play in front of Baker Mayfield, and not having to trade up for him was a gift. Wills is an explosive, aggressive run blocker and emerging pass protector who has few obvious shortcomings."
"Wills is a thickly built, wide-based blocker with solid technique and lots of SEC experience. He's quick off the line and shockingly fast when racing out to block for screens, and he will steal some lunch money when blocking linebackers or cornerbacks. There's no real weakness in Wills' game, but he lacks the elite traits of a top left tackle: His arms are a little short, and he lacks the lateral agility to mirror top pass-rushers.
"The Browns can plug Wills in at left tackle (with Jack Conklin on the right) and be set for the 2020s, or move him inside to guard and get a guy with the leverage and consistency to hold his own against the Aaron Donalds of the world. I had Tristan Wirfs and Mekhi Becton ranked higher at tackle, but the offensive lineman the Browns preferred fell right into their laps."
"The Browns needed another tackle after signing Jack Conklin to a big contract in free agency to replace Greg Robinson on the left side. They are banking on Wills, who also played on the right side at Alabama, to be athletic enough to make the transition and hold down Baker Mayfield’s blind side sooner rather than later. At first, he will be a big asset for Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. At 6-4, 312 pounds, Wills is a strong, powerful run-blocker who needs a little time to develop into an elite pass-protector."
"There's better upside from the other two tackles available. This kid is clearly a right tackle, but has the body of a guard. I think there will be a transition for him moving over to the left side if indeed that's where they play him."
"There was still work to be done for the Browns at offensive tackle, even after signing Jack Conklin. They filled that void with one of the nastiest run-blockers in this draft class in Jedrick Wills. He is an absolute unit with elite explosiveness and agility and can wreck defenders in the run game. He posted an elite 90.5 run-block grade — sixth in the FBS last year — and had more big-time blocks (PFF’s highest-graded blocks) than anyone in the class. Wills’ pass protection isn’t on someone like Andrew Thomas’ level, but new Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is going to love watching this guy pave holes for his rushing attack."