PHILADELPHIA – The experts are saying the Browns may have finally gotten it right.
Cleveland chose Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett as the first choice in Thursday’s opening round of the 2017 NFL draft, one of two defensive players the Browns chose with their three first-round selections.
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Coming off a 1-15 season, the Browns need help everywhere. They began filling holes by grabbing Garrett, a junior and All-American with dynamic passing rushing skills, probably the best of any player in this draft. While Garrett was bothered by some injuries last season, at times he was unblockable in the tough SEC.
Garrett is the first Aggie selected No. 1 overall.
The Browns made two other first-round picks. With the 25th pick, acquired in a trade with Green Bay, they chose Miami tight end David Njoku.
They also traded with Houston for the 29th pick where they took Michigan safety Jabril Peppers.
The Bengals made an unexpected move with the ninth pick in the NFL draft, taking speedy John Ross from Washington to try to improve a passing game that struggled last season.
Cincinnati passed over highly-rated defensive players to take Ross. The last time the Bengals took a receiver with their first pick was 2011, when they got A.J. Green with the fourth selection.
The Bengals took receiver Tyler Boyd with their second pick last season. The offense crumbled after Green severely pulled a hamstring. Brandon LaFell returns after finishing second to Green in catches and yards.
The Steelers chose Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Watt, younger brother of NFL superstar J.J. Watt, with the 30th selection.
The draft continues with the second and third rounds Friday.