LAS VEGAS — You could just as well rename the city of Cleveland to Norman at this time.
The Browns have selected Oklahoma edge rusher Isaiah Thomas with the 223rd overall pick in the seventh round of the NFL draft. He's the third Sooner the team has taken this year, as well as the second edge.
RELATED: More Browns coverage from WKYC
Thomas grew up in Tulsa before arriving in Norman in 2017. He began as a redshirt and played as a backup his first two seasons before becoming a two-year starter from 2020-21. During his career, he registered 24 1/2 sacks and 16 1/2 tackles for loss to earn All-Big 12 honors twice, all while helping the Sooners to three conference championships and two College Football Playoff appearances.
Here's what NFL Network analyst Lance Zierlein had to say about Thomas:
"Long, rangy 4-3 defensive end with pass-rush talent to be cultivated, but a lack of stoutness at the point of attack. Thomas' field movements are a bit gawky and segmented but can also be effective. He combines efficient hands and an instinctive feel for advantageous angles to grease the edge and attack the pocket. He needs to build his lower half to improve rush consistency against physical tackles, though. Thomas' length and pass-rush talent could help him find sub-package snaps while he attempts to develop into a starting-caliber end."
Thomas joins Oklahoma teammates Perrion Winfrey (fourth round) and Michael Woods II (sixth) as 2022 Browns draft picks. In addition, fellow pass rusher Alex Wright was taken in the third round out of UAB.
