HINCKLEY, Ohio — The Browns' draft day was a long day, and they were connected to a couple of interesting stories before they were finally on the clock at No. 10.
Let's start with Trent Williams, and the possibility of the Browns being really in on a trade with the Washington Redskins that would bring the seven-time All-Pro left tackle to Cleveland. As they day went on, it seemed if there was going to be a trade to be made, Washington and Cleveland would connect. Obviously, that did not happen.
Then the draft started, and as expected, Joe Burrow went No. 1. Chase Young and Jeff Okudah from Ohio State followed him, and then the Browns got a little bit of a look at what people thought of the offensive line class, especially at the tackle position: Andrew Thomas, the left tackle out of the University of Georgia whom I think the Browns really liked, went to the New York Giants at No. 4.
The Browns were always, leading up into the draft, taking a look at what the Giants would do; that would give them some kind of a look at what would be left for them six spots later. If the Giants went with Isaiah Simmons, then the Browns knew they might have another shot at getting Thomas; if Thomas went, then maybe Simmons would be available.
And so it went on, and it looked like Cleveland might get the great defensive player out of Clemson who plays all over the field. Then suddenly, at eight, Simmons was gone to the Arizona Cardinals, and the Browns went back to their initial thought: They need to get a left tackle.
Instead, they end up getting a right tackle, who they will now make a left tackle. A lot of people say, "No problem," some people say, "Ehhh...not as easy as it looks."
Jedrick Wills is his name, out of the University of Alabama. Nick Saban says he'll have no trouble at all switching sides, and that he's a tremendous football player who was given a lot of responsibility with the Crimson Tide. Remember, Tua Tagovailoa is a left-handed quarterback, so his blind side was always protected by the right tackle. Wills played very well on that side, making 28 consecutive starts.
We'll see how he adjusts to switching to the left, but the Browns look to have their offensive line set now after right tackle Jack Conklin was already picked up in free agency. When it comes to Wills, the team hopes the 20-year-old can be their left tackle for a long, long time.
Is he Joe Thomas? No, he's Jedrick Wills, but let's hope he plays like Joe Thomas.
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