CLEVELAND – The Browns raised some eyebrows, the Bengals played defense and seven more Ohio State players were chosen in this year’s NFL draft, which concluded Saturday in Arlington, Texas.
The Browns made some bold moves and a couple curious ones.
They showed an aggressiveness following their 0-16 season with their selection of Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield with the No. 1 overall pick. They addressed some needs, like replacing veteran tackle Joe Thomas, but Cleveland also raised some eyebrows by taking two players on the third day with criminal records: troubled Florida wide receiver Antonio Callaway in the fourth round and Louisiana-Lafayette cornerback Simeon Thomas.
The Bengals took a surprising turn in the draft, choosing defensive players with six of their first eight picks.
Even new defensive coordinator Teryl Austin was surprised. They decided they’re set for now on offense and tried to upgrade a defense that slipped last season.
They turned back to offense in the fourth round of the draft, filling their need for a backup running back by picking up Mark Walton from Miami with the 112th overall pick.
A total of seven Ohio State Buckeyes were selected in this year’s draft, with
DE Jalyn Holmes taken as the second pick of Saturday’s fourth round by the Minnesota Vikings and OT Jamarco Jones a fifth-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks.
CB Denzel Ward was a first-round selection by the Browns while C Billy Price went to Cincinnati wirh the 21st overall pick.