BEREA, Ohio -- Talent-wise, the Cleveland Browns liked what they saw from former University of Florida wide receiver Antonio Callaway so much that they traded up to No. 105 and selected him early in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft Saturday.
The Browns made the decision to select Callaway despite a lengthy history of off-the-field issues, including a claim of sexual assault, credit card theft and a failed drug test at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine.
“I’m very excited to get a guy of this caliber and his talent,” general manager John Dorsey said in a press conference following the pick.
“As we sat and processed the information, and we did all types of processing the information, we thought based on things that have happened in the past and based on his ability, we thought that fourth round is probably right where you get a guy like this because you know you have certain resources in place that can help young men develop.”
PHOTOS | Cleveland Browns trade up, select WR Antonio Callaway at No. 105 in 2018 NFL Draft
Callaway was suspended for the 2016 spring practices during a sexual assault investigation. He was later cleared of three charges by a Title IX hearing officer.
In July of 2017, Callaway pleaded no contest to possession of drug paraphernalia, and then, was suspended for the entire 2017 season when it was discovered that he used stolen credit card information to make purchases at the school’s bookstore.
In addition to the legal troubles, Callaway had a diluted test sample at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine, which, under league rules, counts as a failed test.
“Character is important,” Dorsey said. “I think it’s a case-by-case basis. You sit and meet individuals, and then, you begin to understand what they are as people. If you sit there and understand his situations and his life story, you can see a guy that actually loves the game of football, but he likes structure, he likes routine.
“You can see that there’s a degree of humility with this person. So you have to do your risk tolerance and say, ‘Okay, where are we here?’ And I thought this was the appropriate level to kind of make a move like this.”
In just two seasons at Florida, the 5-foot-10, 193-pound Callaway caught 89 passes for 1,399 yards and seven touchdowns. Additionally, Callaway was a playmaker in the return game, as he ran back 56 punts for 653 yards and two touchdowns, as well as six kickoffs for 176 yards and one touchdown.
Callaway was the first player in Florida history to score a touchdown five different ways, as he caught seven, returned two punts and one kickoff for scores, threw for one on his only career pass attempt and rushed in one during the 2016 season.
And Dorsey is confident that with the systems the Browns have in place, Callaway will be a productive member of the football team.
“I think once you get in here, committed, in place, let’s let him get and develop a trust mechanism for the organization,” Dorsey said.
“Let him be ingrained in what it means to be a Cleveland Brown, what is the Cleveland Browns’ way? Once you get him involved in that type of culture, good things can happen.”
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