0:05

The twenty twenty four NFL Draft

0:07

has wrapped up and the Browns have made

0:10

all six of their selection.

0:12

Today on from the podium, we're going to

0:14

hear from some of those Browns draft picks from over

0:16

the last two days, and of course a few members

0:19

of the front office as well as They're going to go

0:21

over every pick that they made in

0:23

the twenty twenty four NFL Draft,

0:25

starting the day at the podium where the two picks

0:28

from Friday night, Mike Hall junior

0:30

from the Ohio State University and Zach

0:32

Ziner from the University of Michigan, who

0:35

both talked about how excited they were to play

0:37

in Cleveland and how they planned to put that Ohio

0:39

State Michigan rivalry aside.

0:41

I mean, considering in Zach, you were obviously

0:43

asked last night about this, but considering

0:46

how you guys are connected from last November,

0:48

how surreal, strange

0:51

everything that you know kind

0:53

of as Zac said before, it comes full circle

0:55

now that you guys are are teammates.

0:57

In the NFL.

0:58

Yeah, I mean, I would just say know first off,

1:00

you know, I mean the game

1:03

you know in itself, you know, the up

1:05

North and Ohio State rivalry is

1:07

insane, you know from day one, you know, whenever

1:10

you attend these prestigious colleges,

1:12

you know, that's the that's the main goal. So but

1:14

you know, being my rival, my first uh you

1:16

know, my three years throughout my career. Then finally

1:19

being a teammates. Yeah, it's crazy to you

1:21

don't see them in the building. I'm going to be seeing

1:23

them day in and.

1:24

Day out, you know.

1:24

But I mean we're brothers now, and

1:27

it's all it's all about that.

1:30

What kind of.

1:31

Reaction you got in since last night

1:33

from just Northeast Ohio friends,

1:36

family, is you got to hear from more people

1:38

about being with the hometown team.

1:40

Yeah, being with my hometown team has just been

1:42

a blessing come true. You know, it's just the

1:45

greatest feeling ever. You know, I feel like, I

1:47

mean, everybody wants to stay home, but you

1:50

know, sometimes it's not a reality. But waking

1:52

up this morning is an actual reality. Like I

1:55

mean, waking up as a Cleveland Brown. It's

1:57

the same we talked. I mean, I talked about this with my family

2:00

and since I was you know, ever since I played

2:02

football, you know, at the age of six.

2:06

Playing in that style offense. Yeah,

2:08

Deren Michigan.

2:09

How all that preparing

2:12

you for the NFL?

2:13

Yeah, I mean I think it's perfect. I mean, you know,

2:15

we were a run first offense for sure,

2:17

you know, run the ball a lot, and then they started

2:19

stacking the boxing with a play action. But I

2:21

mean JJ was able to pass the ball too,

2:23

So I think we're pretty diverse, you

2:26

know, and able to do a lot of

2:28

things. So you know, I'm excited to see how that's

2:30

gonna help me translate to the NFL.

2:32

Maybe forty one starts at right guard.

2:34

How much experience do you have playing other positions?

2:37

Yeah, so I cross trained to play center.

2:39

My sophomore year, we had an older guy

2:42

come in who was a walk on, earned

2:44

his way to have a scholarship. Fifth your guy. He had

2:46

some back problems, so I crossed trained to play center.

2:49

He was able to make it through the year, so I never had to play,

2:51

but I played center in two spring games.

2:53

Two springs, So you know, if I've experienced,

2:55

they are just never any true actual games.

2:59

And you guys are brought now, but go

3:01

back to that game in November twenty fifth and Zach

3:03

gets hurt. You know what's that like for

3:05

you guys to see a moment like that where

3:08

a guy gets carted off the field, because you could

3:10

happen to anybody, right.

3:11

Oh yeah, no doubt.

3:12

I mean, uh, like we

3:14

were just talking about that and we were just saying,

3:16

like, you know, whoever's going to win that game?

3:18

That was the you know, the national championship game. So

3:21

and they won a national championship, so

3:23

there was no coincidence. But I mean

3:25

just seeing that and you know it's it's obviously

3:28

the biggest rivalry of all sport, but I

3:30

mean, just to see that out there, and I mean, I mean

3:32

we even prayed for him after, you know,

3:35

when that happened, So I mean, it was just real tragedy

3:37

to see that means the hell of a player. And you know,

3:39

my teammate now and my brother, but you know, we

3:41

were just real. I mean, because when you

3:43

when you go out there against those guys, you want to play against

3:45

the best. You don't you don't want to go against you know, no offense

3:48

to anybody, but you know the second or third you want to go against

3:50

the top top.

3:51

I mean, and this game is all about competing.

3:54

That Zack was telling us yesterday

3:57

that you reached out to him after

3:59

that injury, and you just kind of share with

4:02

us like when you did that and

4:04

what you were feeling and sort of what you

4:06

said.

4:07

You know, it was just checking up on him, just making

4:09

sure everything's good. I mean, I know he wanted to play

4:11

in the National Championship game. That was that

4:13

was just I mean everybody

4:15

who want to do that though, for sure, so but

4:18

I mean, for sure it was just a tragic event that happened.

4:21

In the minutes and hours after that injury,

4:24

all the things you processed, did you worry about your NFL.

4:26

Future at all?

4:28

Uh?

4:28

I mean it definitely crossed my mind. I mean, you

4:30

know, on the you know, going into that game

4:32

and you know the year I've had and then

4:34

that happening, I didn't know what had happened at that point, but

4:36

I mean it definitely crossed my mind. You know, I knew something

4:39

that happened to my leg. I didn't know how bad or how

4:41

good it was, but uh, I mean it's definitely

4:43

something that crossed my mind for sure.

4:45

Where that you were you could actually feel

4:47

something with the.

4:48

Bones that you were, Yeah, so like yes,

4:51

like when the doctors came came out, like

4:53

my leg was kind of sideways, so like they straightened

4:55

it out and like I could feel all the bones like in

4:57

there, like crankling kind of and touching. So

5:00

wasn't the best experience, but you know we got through it.

5:04

Hey scenario, So where are you health wise

5:06

if you hit all the checkpoints? And where are you

5:08

in terms of your rehab?

5:10

Yeah?

5:10

So I'm clear for everything. So at this point is just building

5:12

the strength back up, building the stamina. But the legs

5:14

healed, so at this point, you know, just building the calf

5:17

strength and the muscles around it back up.

5:19

You weren't able to work out for any teams?

5:22

No, I made a video a couple of weeks or a

5:24

week and a half ago that posts on social media,

5:26

But I didn't work out.

5:27

No, sir.

5:28

You to be in a room now with Wyatt Teller

5:30

and Joel Antonio, what do you hope to learn

5:33

from.

5:33

Those two guys?

5:34

And just how exciting is if you to

5:36

be in a room with you

5:38

know, two of the.

5:39

Best in the games.

5:40

Yeah, I mean, I'm pumped to have two guys

5:42

like that, you know, that have done it and are

5:44

doing a high level. I mean, just you

5:46

know, I'm pumped to come in be in that room and just

5:48

learn from them, you know, just see

5:50

how they go about their everyday lives. You know, how they

5:52

prepare, how they attack, practice, all that kind of

5:55

stuff, and just you know, mimic and attach

5:57

on them at the hip and just try to grow.

6:00

For both of you.

6:00

What's it like joining a team

6:03

that's already a playoff team? You

6:05

know, you're not here with a two

6:07

and seventeen or two and fifteen

6:09

teams, So what's that like being

6:11

on a playoff team?

6:13

I mean, first and foremost, you know, just coming in

6:16

with a team like this, you know, it's a winning tradition. You're

6:18

just starting to get back to, you know what I'm saying, winning a lot

6:20

of games. So I think that's a great

6:22

thing in itself, and hopefully, you know, we'll be able to

6:25

bring one back, you know, for the city of Cleveland.

6:27

You know.

6:28

Yeah, I mean I'm excited. You know, I don't

6:31

like to lose, you know, I like to win. And you know,

6:33

I've got some rings over the years, and I'm hoping to keep

6:35

adding to them.

6:37

Did you attend Browns games as a

6:39

kid.

6:40

I think I've been the one. I can't remember which

6:42

one I was. I was here I was really young.

6:45

A ton of family in town, or can you sort

6:47

of describe what your family and friends situation

6:50

is like here.

6:50

Yes, I don't have too many family members

6:53

in here. It's just my mom, no, my brother, and that's

6:56

just about it.

6:57

Yeah.

6:57

Really, part, are you hoping

6:59

to go somewhere else just to get

7:01

you know, to kind of broaden your horizons.

7:03

Maybe you spend all your life.

7:05

In Ohio like good party, you think Okay, might get.

7:07

Drafted somewhere else.

7:08

Uh.

7:09

Maybe.

7:09

I mean at the time, I felt

7:12

good at my thirty visit here, you know, I

7:14

felt at home, and you know, being here, I

7:16

mean it's just meeting the people and understanding

7:18

the culture here and just I mean coach

7:21

Schwartz is just I understand his philosophy

7:23

here is just everything was a fit. I mean

7:25

from day one, I love to hear and even

7:28

telling my mom and my brother, you know, I feel

7:30

like, you know, Cleveland's the one and

7:32

luckily I ended up here. So it was the best thing ever.

7:35

One on one in all over the last couple of years.

7:37

Uh. In the game, Yeah, A couple

7:39

of a couple of times. Yeah,

7:42

he got he got me, he

7:45

never.

7:46

Yeah, it was it was it was a pretty good battle.

7:48

You know, he would give me a couple of times. But it's just

7:50

it's all about competing at the highest

7:52

level for sure.

7:53

I think I asked you about Jim Schwartz yesterday

7:56

last night, But what do you think in

7:58

general about this scheme where we've

8:00

heard it last year? Defensive tackles

8:02

don't have to sit there and eat up blocks. They want you

8:04

guys skidding after the quarterback. I guess how much

8:06

more do you think you can unlock just.

8:08

With your pass?

8:09

The ship man?

8:10

I feel like, you know, Coach Schwartz

8:12

is just going to bring the best out of me every day, day in and day

8:14

out. And you know, our whole philosophy is just the

8:16

attack and disrupt So you know, just having

8:18

that having that mentality in that mindset

8:21

to finally be able to let the dog unleash,

8:24

that's the best thing ever.

8:25

A huge Browns fan growing up, And if

8:28

so, who were some of the players

8:30

that you identify with or what are some of your

8:32

Brown's memories.

8:34

I remember when Johnny Manziel

8:36

got drafted here, Trent Richardson, that was

8:38

the best thing ever. I mean I even still watched

8:40

like little highlights and stuff from like the old

8:43

things. But yeah, it's just I mean, it's

8:45

just a dream come true to be a Cleveland

8:47

Brown here, growing up here, been here my whole life,

8:49

So it's just all of a feeling.

8:52

So like being a published author.

8:55

Yeah, you know, you got

8:57

a little kid's book. You

8:59

know, it's interesting for sure. You

9:01

know when Nil came out in that whole space and then

9:04

you know, this guy would reach out

9:06

to us like, I think you guys should make a kid's

9:08

book. And I didn't really know what to

9:10

think at first, and then you know,

9:12

we spent we spend a good amount of time on it, a lot

9:14

of help from our parents and our moms too, for sure.

9:17

Make sure it sounded right.

9:20

What's that?

9:21

Were you and whiplay good friends?

9:22

Oh?

9:23

Yeah that was so. I

9:25

can't remember which season. I think it was twenty two

9:27

season. That was my sophomore year. I

9:30

may have been junior or senior year, but yeah,

9:32

he was my lifting partner so like in the off season, so

9:34

like that whole winter spring. I mean,

9:36

here's my lifting buddy every day and you know

9:38

high State we I mean we

9:40

compete every day even in the weight room. So just

9:43

being able to understand

9:45

you know, people from different backgrounds and different ethnicities

9:47

and just be able to create a

9:49

close, close friendship and I

9:52

mean brothers for life in Ohio State is

9:54

all about the brotherhood and be able to be

9:56

with him every day.

9:57

It's just yeah,

10:00

they have yes.

10:03

Or it's hard work working on the interior of

10:05

the defensive line. What do you love most

10:07

to guy?

10:08

Disrupting? I mean just causing havoc? You

10:10

know what I mean.

10:11

I feel like the best thing ever is just making a quarterback

10:13

you know what I'm saying, Like, just look at you pre snap

10:16

and you know, just just having

10:18

an anticipation, you know, just I

10:20

mean, just disrupting.

10:21

That's the whole thing.

10:21

A D line and just chasing out their quarterback

10:24

all day. I mean, it's the best thing ever.

10:26

You moved to Streetsboro, you

10:28

know, how did that affect your football journey?

10:31

How did you know what role is Streetsboro? And you know

10:33

Pete tops and play and where you

10:35

are now.

10:35

Yeah, So when I moved to Streetsboro, it

10:38

was just it was all new to me because they weren't

10:40

like big on football, you know, they were a little

10:42

bit more basketball wrestling, So it

10:44

was kind of all new to them when I came out there. I came from

10:46

a Cleveland Benedictine, so I mean they

10:48

were a football school, football basketball,

10:50

so they kind of knew the woodworks of that.

10:53

But going out here it was just kind of like changing

10:55

the culture.

10:55

You know what I'm saying. They didn't know too.

10:57

You know, they didn't They haven't won a conference championship

10:59

and out don't, I think like a decade or something, so

11:02

you know, to be able to provide them with, you know,

11:04

and be able to be helped to the team and bring

11:06

back multiple of those and make multiple

11:08

playoff appearances.

11:09

I mean that was the best thing to ever happened.

11:12

We began together in a way

11:14

that you would not necessarily have wanted

11:16

it to. But how what would

11:18

you like the ending to this story

11:21

to be for you two guys together?

11:23

Yeah, I mean it started

11:26

off, I mean like how it is. But I mean

11:28

that's I mean, let's go win a Super Bowl? Why not? You

11:30

know what I mean? So I mean we

11:33

guess who are enemies in college? But you know, our

11:35

brothers now our

11:37

brothers and teammates'

11:41

social.

11:41

Media going da hunting in the past.

11:44

I don't know if you know why color is also big

11:46

into that. Are even excited to get to pick his brain

11:48

about?

11:49

Yeah, no, I'm excited.

11:49

I'm a big outdoors guy, you know, hunting and fishing,

11:52

so you know, whenever I get some off time. It wasn't

11:54

a ton in college, but uh, you know, whenever

11:56

I did, I like to, you know, get outdoors

11:58

and do that kind of stuff.

11:59

So excited for sure.

12:01

But Joe Thomas,

12:05

yesterday you mentioned Larry Johnson would a big, big

12:07

influence.

12:07

He was.

12:09

I guess in what ways? And how do you think he most

12:12

helped your game?

12:13

I mean, I feel like coach helped me.

12:15

I mean, he's He's helped me tremendously on the field,

12:17

of course, you know, just understanding

12:19

past rush and all that and just how to cage

12:21

the pocket and all that, how to be a disruptor.

12:24

But I mean I feel like that the biggest thing he helped

12:26

me is just I mean just off the field.

12:29

You know, he's my mentor and he was my sports sycle

12:31

before obviously in the sports sycle, so you know,

12:33

just being transparent with him and being able

12:35

to talk to him about anything. I feel like that was the that

12:37

was the best thing that that could have

12:39

happened for me and him, and just to have that real

12:41

close bond and that relationship, you know, it

12:44

really helped me as a player.

12:46

You said, you're you've been cleared and

12:48

now it's just a matter of building up your muscles

12:51

in that leg. Does that mean you'll be able

12:53

to be on the field like an OTAs or

12:56

looking at different time co tenable because the football

12:59

stuff.

13:00

You know, I mean I expect to be on the field for you know,

13:02

rookie Minnie camp here in a week and a half, you know, going

13:04

through all the stuff on the field, you

13:07

know, and just see what goes. But my leg feels really

13:09

good now, so I expect to be on the field thinking.

13:12

All the pluck gas in the locker room or

13:14

they're going to embrace.

13:15

This, yes,

13:19

ma'am.

13:20

I mean as harsh as it sounds, I mean we're

13:22

brothers now, so you know, you got to put the pass aside.

13:24

And you just we got to go out there and go win one.

13:28

Brought your own.

13:28

Support group here. What can you say about

13:31

them? And you know how much does it mean

13:33

to share that's more more time?

13:35

Yeah, I mean I got my parents here. I mean

13:38

they've been a huge part since you know, the very beginning.

13:41

You know, my dad played in college. I mean, my earliest

13:43

memories are you know, just watching

13:45

college football games and you know when he was

13:47

my coach playing flag and you know, peewee tackle

13:50

football.

13:50

So it's pretty surreal to.

13:52

You know, be here, be a Cleveland Brown and

13:55

you know, just have them by my side for the whole

13:57

way has been unreal.

13:58

Yeah, I feel like it's just a great experience to have

14:01

my mother, my brother, my girlfriend,

14:03

and my son here, you know, just to be able

14:05

to provide my son.

14:06

Just being be able to have him look at me.

14:08

You know, lay it down the road when he gets older

14:10

and watch this and you know, see his dad

14:12

doing something positive. I feel like that's the greatest thing ever

14:14

as a father. But I mean just

14:17

I love my mom and she sacrificed so much for me and

14:19

my brother, and I know she's going through a lot of emotions

14:21

right now, So just real thankful and real appreciative

14:24

of her. But also, you know, just give give

14:26

all the glory to my Lord to savor Jesus Christ. You know, without

14:29

him, I'm nothing.

14:31

You would allowed no

14:34

sex and committed no penalties.

14:37

You know, your senior season obviously

14:40

until it ended prematurely. But how

14:42

much pride did you take in that and what went

14:44

behind you reaching that level play?

14:46

Yeah, I mean I think it just comes down to,

14:48

you know, fundamentals, the dudes around me, I

14:51

mean, our whole line, we mess really well together, and

14:54

you know, we just every week we go out there, try to play

14:56

a clean game, you know, keep JJ up and

14:59

you know, just try to keep keep stay

15:01

ahead of the sticks. You know, penalties, holding penalties, fall

15:03

starts, you know, put you behind the sticks,

15:05

and you know we didn't want to do that, so you know, just

15:07

focusing on the little details that had hurt us in the years

15:10

past, and you know, trying to correct those and keep

15:12

them out of the game.

15:13

Like the cerebral part of the game, which

15:15

obviously is required to do those

15:17

things.

15:18

How much is that a strength of yours along with

15:20

leadership?

15:21

Yeah, I mean, I think it's a big part of my game,

15:23

you know, being able to you know Austin on

15:25

the fly and do all that kind of stuff and adapt.

15:29

But I mean, I think it's a strong part of my game for sure.

15:33

Three.

15:34

I guess Zach make you have like

15:36

a different appreciation for the game. I

15:38

mean, I know it sounds like it obviously could have been much

15:40

worse.

15:40

But how'd it going for you?

15:42

Yeah, I mean it definitely did.

15:43

I mean, this was the only injury that has ever taken

15:46

me away from the game ever in my

15:48

career, especially you know, through the

15:50

last couple of seasons, coming into this season,

15:52

coming back for the last year, it being the

15:55

game against Ohio State Senior night in

15:57

the Big House, all that kind of stuff. I mean, it definitely

16:00

like the appreciation and love that I have for the game

16:02

back, because you know, I missed being out there

16:04

with the boys. You know, I want to get back on the field. I want to

16:07

you know, start producing and doing all that stuff again.

16:09

And it really it really did bring the love back. You

16:11

know, I've been going on a great run. To have it all

16:13

taken away really hurt. So you know, I'm excited

16:15

to keep grinding and get back out on the field.

16:18

I was surprised the Browns picked you, or was

16:20

there an indication

16:22

they were interested in here?

16:23

Yeah, I mean I had a great formal visit

16:26

with them at the Combine and we had talked

16:28

and you know with my agent as well.

16:30

You know, I knew they had liked me and

16:33

you know, when those picks are coming around, I have my

16:35

fingers crossed. And you know when the

16:37

phone rang, I was super excited.

16:39

Before the drive started. Were you hoping

16:41

to get reconnected with Harvaugh?

16:44

I don't know if I'm a West Coast guy to be honest,

16:47

but I

16:49

would have been happy, you know, if you would

16:51

have taken me as well.

16:52

Yeah, with the way you guys

16:54

played in Michigan, and I'm thinking about that second half

16:56

against Penn State, when you guys are playing

16:58

like that and just running the bar, how does that feel for you

17:00

as a guard? And then how does that mentality

17:02

kind of translate here?

17:03

Yeah, I mean I think, you

17:06

know, we couldn't block the guys on the edge,

17:08

and we're getting some pressure, and you know we we

17:10

said, all right, we can't pass. We're gonna run the ball,

17:12

and you know we ran at thirty. Sometimes they knew we were

17:14

gonna run it, and it was more of a you know, mentality

17:17

of you know, we're gonna run the ball, so can you stop

17:19

it? And you know, the coaches

17:21

really, you know, put that in our hands and the running backs

17:23

hands and entrusted us with that, which was really

17:26

special.

17:26

The Browns fifth round pick Jamari Thrash

17:29

was up next. The Louisville wide receiver talked about

17:31

how excited he is to play with this Browns

17:33

wide receiver room and what he sees in himself

17:36

as a player there.

17:37

But what did you get out of that one

17:39

year playing in the ACC at Louisville

17:41

that you feel like you weren't able to really

17:44

get during that time at Georgia State. That helped

17:47

you prepare you for now this next

17:49

step.

17:50

Just being a coach Browns off knowing that

17:53

he runs the post of offense and I knew that he was going to get

17:55

me. You know, I don't want to say a

17:57

leg up, but he was gonna give me an opportunity

17:59

to know learn NFL offenses. You know,

18:01

going to ACC, I was able to I

18:04

was able to go against the ACC defenses. Uh

18:07

well they were what atc DE mean that run NFL

18:09

defenses. So just being in

18:11

a SEC and going against a different competition

18:14

and playing with Bam, you know, they also helped me a lot to

18:16

you know, mature and pick up on a lot

18:18

of things heading into this what actually heading

18:20

into.

18:20

My NFL career?

18:23

Hey, Jamari, congratulations, what

18:26

is your reaction to getting picked by the Browns and did

18:29

you think there would be a fit there? Did you have

18:31

any kind of contact with them before the draft

18:33

that made you think it would be a possibility.

18:36

Yeah, So I actually made with them at the come on, you

18:38

know, they ran me through a couple of tists. You know, they got to know

18:40

me as a player in the characters. So

18:42

I actually kind of, uh, you know,

18:44

it looked crazy.

18:45

I actually kind of I was.

18:47

I knew they were gonna pick me, but I looked at it

18:49

like the upcoming forward picks and I was

18:51

like, okay, Like I know, I talked to the

18:53

Browns a lot. I know, I talked to you know, such

18:55

and such a lot. So you know, I was just waiting,

18:57

we'll see what team's gonna grab me. But man, I'm

19:00

blessed arned a big Cleveland by you know, it means a lot

19:02

to me right now.

19:04

Hey, Jamary, what was this weekend like for you?

19:06

Where were you? Who were you with? And what

19:08

were the emotions?

19:09

Like?

19:11

I mean, I was just around my family and family friends,

19:13

uh, you know, people I grew up with.

19:15

Uh, you know, it's kind of it got kind of shaky

19:18

for them because you know, I'm like, you know, I just kept you know, one

19:20

round went by and then you know, I was just trying

19:23

to you know, getting kind of nervous. I couldn't be

19:25

still. So that's why I know what I'm there. I can't be still.

19:27

But you know, once you know, coach called Melett

19:30

know he's gonna select him. You know, it was a great feeling.

19:33

Hey, Jamari, looking at the roster

19:35

and the receivers that are currently

19:38

in Cleveland, is there is there someone that you're

19:40

looking forward to kind of picking their brain and

19:42

trying to grow their grow your game around

19:45

them, all.

19:45

Of them, you know, I know, I

19:47

know they just recently got Judy, you

19:50

know, Mark who has been there a lot, and Moore's been there,

19:52

Uh, James Rochet. You

19:55

know, I'm just willing. I'm just ready to you know, work, you

19:57

know, learn learn what I can learn from those guys.

19:59

So, you know, really excited about the future.

20:02

Jamuri.

20:03

It doesn't look like you have a bunch of special

20:05

teams on your resume. Is that

20:07

something that you think you can do in

20:10

the pros? And have you have you done much

20:13

of it at all?

20:14

Yeah? So, actually when I went to Louis, you know, I was

20:16

a gunner. I was a gunner. You know, I played punk

20:19

return you know, in high school.

20:21

I did it a little bit in college. But you know, I got my opportunity

20:23

to do it, you know, in the game. But those are my you

20:25

know, that's my background when it comes to you know, special teams.

20:28

So but yeah, especial teams something that I'm

20:30

definitely, you know, willing to do. That's something that it

20:32

doesn't matter if I'm willing to do it or not. You know, I don't

20:34

have a choice. But uh, yeah,

20:36

that's my whole mindset when it comes to it. Were

20:39

space team and I don't mind doing

20:41

special teams.

20:44

Jamari.

20:44

If you were to write out your own scouting report

20:46

on yourself, what would it say.

20:50

Uh, playmaker good

20:53

with the ball in his hand, creates you

20:55

know enough such separation. I

21:00

mean, I feel like my take, you know, my

21:03

take to just speak for itself.

21:07

Congratulations, Jamari. In

21:09

your conversation just with the Browns

21:12

at the combine, just what were some of the

21:14

things you picked up on, learned about and liked

21:16

with the offense that they're trying

21:18

to run next next season, Just

21:21

saying how how.

21:22

To use their receivers. Just seeing

21:24

you know, seeing how versat how they

21:26

let their receivers be because you know, they showed me a couple

21:28

formations and you those films, you know, Mark

21:31

Cooper being took WI to the left

21:33

and also in the slot as well, So just seeing

21:35

how to use the receiver, you know, their concepts and

21:38

then you know, just play style.

21:40

Hi, Jamari, Ashley Bastak from Cleveland

21:43

dot Com, I know you're excited to pick everyone's

21:45

brain in that receiver room. It sounds like that I've

21:48

read you get praised for your route running.

21:50

I'm wondering with Amari Cooper specifically,

21:52

since he's regarded as one of the best route

21:54

runners in the league. How excited

21:56

are you to get to talk that aspect of the

21:58

game with him?

22:00

Man, I can't wait. Mark, We've been doing a

22:02

good job. You know, he's always been consistent. You know, he

22:04

was one of my favorite siver when he was at Betan as well. So

22:07

just being in that room with him and Judy and

22:10

Eliza more. You know, just being in the room with those

22:12

guys, I know I can just learn a lot. Like you know, I can't

22:14

wait. I can't wait to you know, get into.

22:15

That room with those guys, Hey,

22:18

Jamary, I saw that you had a hand

22:20

injury, had surgery, you played through it. How did that affect

22:23

you in the second half of the season, and you

22:25

know why was it so important for you to stay on the field.

22:28

You know it kind of slowed me up, you know, getting

22:31

trying to get back juice, you know, catching what uh,

22:33

I don't want to say one hand, but trying to get straight

22:36

back in you know, hand I had surgery in it differ

22:38

it definitely, you know, slowed me down a little bit toward

22:40

the second half or to see him, but I always

22:42

just want to you know. So just knowing what we had

22:45

to do and seeing when we get in the standards, I knew that,

22:47

you know, going to going to the a SEC

22:49

Championship was something that that was big on us,

22:51

you know, coming in, uh in next January, coming

22:53

in yeah, coming in next

22:55

January. So I have something that was

22:58

big for us. And I just know the type

23:00

of player I am in tope of teammate that I

23:02

am, so I didn't mind you know, playing you know with

23:04

a broke hand or a broken

23:07

ridge or a broken finger. Like just knowing

23:09

me as a player and just knowing that my teammates on the

23:11

field each each game really did

23:13

a lot to him. So just knowing that that they

23:16

needed me, you know, I don't I don't mind going all out

23:18

for my teammates.

23:19

Director of Player Personnel Dan Sagany

23:21

was up next. He talked about what he sees and

23:23

all the draft picks so far and what specifically

23:26

led the team to selecting Jamari Thrash.

23:30

Yeah, we're very, very excited to add Jamori

23:33

to the roster. So

23:35

Jamari for us, we view him as a guy that can play inside

23:37

and outside. He had a really productive college

23:40

career at Georgia State and then

23:42

you know, decided to transfer up to Louisville

23:44

last year and had another you know, big year, big

23:46

year there. So a

23:48

guy with speed, a guy that showed up really well through

23:50

the Senior Bowl process. We really enjoyed getting

23:52

to know him u through our spring

23:55

scouting process, and you know, with these

23:57

picks at this time of the draft, we're really looking to

24:00

find players that we're looking forward to developing,

24:02

getting having our coaches get

24:04

their hands on him and you

24:06

know, see what they can do.

24:07

So he's a competitive kid.

24:09

He's had production inside and out throughout his college

24:11

career, and he's a good playmaker with the ball

24:13

in his hands. So excited to add him to the room

24:15

and let him compete.

24:17

He doesn't have much special teams experience, but

24:19

he said he knows that's got to be his role going

24:22

forward. Here see guy that you can envision,

24:24

you know, using in those kinds of spots. I guess he was a gunner

24:26

in the school.

24:27

Yeah, I mean he's got speed, he's a tough

24:29

kid like and the thing that stands out

24:31

about him even for a slighter receiver, is like he

24:34

can get off the line.

24:35

He knows how to win.

24:35

That stuff usually trans will translates pretty

24:38

well to the gunner spots. So again,

24:41

a guy you can probably develop as a returner as well.

24:43

Just give him the production he's had with the ball in his

24:45

hands. So, you know, a guy

24:47

that all those guys they know they're

24:49

going to have to compete for, you know, for roster spots

24:52

and special teams is a big part of that.

24:54

But when you're looking at receivers, you know, if a

24:56

guy has twitched, quickness, toughness, they usually

24:58

find a way to get on the field.

25:00

So looking forward to seeing what he can do working

25:02

with Bubba.

25:03

So you've been here a long time.

25:05

Is there every conversation like we should

25:07

probably start adding some guys from that football factory

25:10

in two hours down the road.

25:13

Well, we have lots of conversations about

25:16

lots of different players. I figure you'd be asking

25:18

about Akron at this point, but now,

25:21

I mean, we're trying to add the best players we can to

25:23

our roster, and everybody's boards different. You know, we

25:25

we kind of had to wait a little while today

25:28

before we made a pick and really just trying

25:30

to add the best depth and competitive players

25:32

we can to our roster, regardless

25:34

of school, regardless of background.

25:36

All these guys have all different backgrounds.

25:38

These days, and you know, it's cool to see a guy

25:40

have great success and then transfer up and have

25:43

it translate well and work out well for him and

25:45

then show up with the Senior Bowl and

25:47

show out like he did.

25:48

So guys like that, you

25:50

know, we're excited to at at any point.

25:53

Most us have the same opinions of.

25:56

The quality of players that are available.

25:59

How hard is it to trade out?

26:01

At this point? Is anybody to

26:03

trade out?

26:05

We certainly do our due diligence, making a lot

26:07

of calls. I mean, we've been honestly at

26:09

all spots. We kind of talk about it every year where

26:11

we were very proactive

26:13

making calls up and down the board just based

26:15

on who's there, based on you

26:17

know, a handful of players that could be there, and then

26:20

we kind of, you know, sit and wait to see where it goes.

26:23

But again, you know, you're you're trying to find developmental

26:25

players.

26:26

We're in a good spot with our roster where you

26:28

know, we have a lot of quality bets

26:31

on this roster that you know, anybody that we

26:33

drafted this point is going to be able to learn

26:35

from some pretty good pros and guys that have been around

26:37

a while. And you

26:39

know, again, our job is to help play

26:41

the roster two three years out down the line,

26:43

and that's where these picks you know, really become

26:46

important and you know, really good developmental

26:48

pieces for us.

26:49

It's a general question, but

26:52

when's the transfer portal and

26:54

everything that's that presenting a different

26:57

challenge, challenge and scouting

26:59

guys.

27:01

That's a great question.

27:02

I would say, like the transfer portal has been interesting

27:05

because you you know, it's

27:07

almost better perspective, right because you're you're

27:09

getting background from sometimes three

27:11

different schools on players now if they've gone through

27:14

two or three schools at this point.

27:15

So you're getting perspectives.

27:17

You're you're seeing how guys have grown and matured over

27:19

their career, not just at one school. You

27:21

know, if they've stayed with one staff, you're learning

27:24

from you know, multiple staffs

27:26

that they've had at different stops. It

27:29

really gives you a sense of like who the who the player

27:31

has become, not just as a player, but as a person

27:34

as they've gone. So I think it makes it a

27:36

little bit harder to gather the information. But our scouts

27:38

do an unbelievable job.

27:40

I mean they're on the road two hundred days a year,

27:42

digging this digging this information up. That's what

27:44

they do. So we're fortunate

27:46

they we.

27:47

Have a really good group so that by the time you

27:50

know, we're comfortable making a pick and adding a

27:52

player to our roster, we feel like we

27:54

really know that player. And it all starts with

27:57

gathering that background and all the work that everybody

27:59

upstairs do.

28:00

Us that

28:03

Hall and Zinter had

28:05

that ironic, weird connection.

28:08

Before you drafted them both

28:10

on day two, I

28:13

mean, we're we're aware of some connections, but

28:15

I would say, you know, we're really excited

28:17

to add both guys as football players.

28:19

I mean, they're.

28:22

Got shoved into or I've seen them

28:24

play a lot.

28:27

I can tell you every every play in that Ohio State

28:29

Michigan game. We've seen probably eighty

28:31

times as a group together at this point. So that's

28:34

what we do from February

28:36

through about a week ago. So yeah,

28:41

like I said, that's why I was like, did you guys challenge them

28:43

to a steelcage death match out here before before

28:46

we even started the day. So yeah,

28:48

both those guys obviously are super competitive

28:51

players and have played, you know, some pretty good

28:53

football at a high level. So that'll

28:55

be fun to watch that battle and practice

28:57

for years to come as you guys get to

28:59

watch.

28:59

Them out there.

29:00

So that game, I was not at

29:02

that game.

29:02

I was.

29:03

I was up there a year or two ago, but I was not at this. Yes,

29:06

how many one on sky or one

29:10

or two might have been. I think this year is

29:12

one we want to say two last

29:14

year.

29:16

Your question about development, this

29:19

this is the fifth straight year I believe that you guys are drafted

29:22

a receiver.

29:23

Two are no longer with the organization,

29:26

So I'll.

29:26

Leave you with three, including Thrash

29:28

heere I realized

29:30

when you're at this point in the draft, you're.

29:32

Hoping to get lightning in the bottle. How

29:36

do you feel about.

29:39

The young receiver development

29:41

right now.

29:43

As far as where you know where it's

29:45

at and.

29:49

You know, is it a case where you

29:51

guys are just trying to keep reinvesting

29:54

in that particular position.

29:55

Open the Yeah, that's a great

29:58

question too.

30:00

I think like it just to answer the first party of a

30:02

question with developing receivers, I feel

30:04

great.

30:05

I think chat o'sha is one of the best receiver coaches

30:07

in the league.

30:08

I think we have a great player development crew

30:10

here that does a lot behind the scenes to continue

30:13

working with these guys. You

30:15

know, with Jamari in particular, the thing

30:17

that stands out to us is his ability to separate

30:20

naturally and he's kind of proven that at two different levels

30:22

now and then you know through the spring in

30:24

the All Star Game circuit. As we mentioned, so

30:27

when we're you know, the hard part about receiver

30:30

in the NFL developing, and that's why it is like a high

30:32

turnover position is like there's sometimes

30:34

two three on the field at most,

30:38

but and it takes an opportunity sometimes

30:41

you know, it takes an injury.

30:42

For a guy to get on the field and show what they can really do.

30:45

We've had plenty of guys through the years that you know, look

30:47

great in practice and then you know they have to show

30:50

up and prove it. But you need those guys, you

30:52

know, to to be able to get to the field

30:54

and be active to do it. So I

30:56

know somebody asked the special teams question, that's

30:58

one way to get on the field and prove yourself.

31:01

There's plenty of you.

31:02

Know, as a history of guys in the league that started

31:04

as special teams players and developed into

31:07

good players. And you know, thinking through

31:09

the back through the years here, even Rishard

31:11

Higgins, you know, had a little bit

31:14

action as a rookie. You know, he's a guy we cut

31:16

put back on practice squad, brought him right back

31:18

to the fifty three, and then it took him a year to really.

31:20

Prove what he could do.

31:21

So, you

31:24

know, as an organization, I think we're in a great

31:26

spot with player development. And you

31:28

know, our job again is to provide depth and so

31:30

that we can survive injuries over the course of the year

31:33

and when those guys get their opportunity

31:36

to show what they can do they you know, they have one

31:38

or two things in their skill set that allows

31:40

them to succeed at our level.

31:42

I think Zach had said

31:44

that he had worked a little

31:46

bit early in his Michigan career at Center. Do

31:49

you guys sort of envision him potentially,

31:51

you know, some

31:53

versatility there beyond just just

31:56

guard, you know, just even

31:58

if it's just as you an emergency

32:01

of possibility.

32:03

Yeah, I would leave that one fully up to the coaches.

32:06

I mean, the good thing about Zach is he's played multiple

32:08

positions. He is super smart. He's

32:11

a guy where you honestly feel like you can plug and play

32:13

wherever. And he's you know, he's gonna

32:15

know exactly what to do. He's gonna know, you

32:17

know, the right angles on how to do it. He's gonna take

32:19

coaching very well and understand

32:21

exactly what we're doing schematically.

32:23

So long term, roster wise,

32:25

those things bear themselves out over time.

32:27

Again, opportunity creates playtime, and

32:30

we'll see how he does. But you know, I think he

32:32

fully fits our you know, smart, tough, accountable

32:34

mantra, and we'll we'll fit right into that

32:36

room.

32:37

Really early.

32:39

Yesterday, the front of de Tackles and

32:41

it just seems like you guys obviously come away with one.

32:44

But in the NFL, the contracts

32:46

that veterans are getting in free agency and

32:49

that emphasis on d tackles you can get

32:51

after opposing quarterbacks. How in recent

32:53

years has that changed, like your evaluation

32:55

of the position, and how have you seen it kind

32:57

of trickle down into college maybe anything like

33:00

that.

33:00

Yeah, I mean pass rusher is a premium

33:02

no matter what I mean. We see you know, the guys that.

33:04

Hit the market this year, even you know, signed

33:07

extensions recently at the de tackle position.

33:09

It's a highly paid, highly coveted position.

33:12

And you know, taking a guy like Mike

33:15

very good you know, quickness, twitch, power,

33:18

and you know has you know, really.

33:20

Like the ideal skill set for what we're looking

33:22

for out of a three technique.

33:24

So when you see guys like that, they

33:26

kind of jump off the tape. In college, a

33:28

lot of college teams, you know, play odd fronts

33:30

or play three guys where it's you

33:33

know, you have more dbs and linebackers on the field.

33:35

But you know, a guy like Mike

33:37

really was identified pretty early here as a

33:39

guy that's a perfect.

33:40

Scheme fit for us. And if it's what we

33:42

do. And again it is something that we're always looking

33:45

to add wherever we can.

33:46

So he really had something.

33:48

I'm sorry, he has some real dominant

33:50

stresses down there and.

33:52

Then maybe some inconsistency.

33:53

What would you attribute that to inconsistency?

33:58

Yeah, I would just say, like, you know, he's

34:01

a guy that's going to come off the ball, so maybe

34:03

it looks a little bit differently when you know the

34:05

ball goes the other way or it gets out a gap,

34:08

you know, maybe from where he was supposed

34:10

to be on tape. I just think like his

34:13

his strength is coming off the ball. It's disrupting.

34:15

It's you guys have heard Jim's phrases

34:17

over and over. That's that's what he does. And

34:19

I just think his even like his his

34:22

inconsistent plays create opportunities for others,

34:25

which is how we we kind of view things when

34:27

you're building your front seven, and you know,

34:30

we're fortunately that we have a couple of pretty good d linement

34:32

around him with the ability to rectify

34:35

some mistakes. When you got a guy that just gets up the field

34:37

and disrupts and has power and plays

34:39

fast, So that's what we want our.

34:40

Guys to do.

34:42

Back to the development aspects.

34:44

We look at Murry's teams.

34:46

In the area that he can grow.

34:48

What can this current

34:50

being here just with one mari and

34:53

give yeah,

34:56

Marie, I would be watching and listening to every

34:59

detail that those guys provide with throughout running.

35:01

Like when you talk about the three guys you mentioned,

35:03

they're all very quality route runners. They

35:06

all have the ability to play inside and out, just

35:08

like we we view Jamaria. So you

35:11

know, route running in the NFL versus a high high

35:14

amount of press coverage is you

35:16

know, takes again the receiver curve.

35:17

It takes a little time for these guys to figure that out.

35:21

You know, his his athletic skill set and what he's

35:23

proven throughout his college career

35:25

is already you know, up to par if

35:28

you will, and then it's up to him

35:30

to you know, learn the nuances, learn those smaller

35:33

things and really probably learn to study

35:35

tape and listen to how these guys see the game,

35:38

because that's a that's a pretty smart receiver group

35:40

and guys that you know, the one of the best things

35:42

about that group. We always joke about

35:44

how we have a pretty boring receiver group here, and it's

35:46

because those guys are they're pros.

35:49

They all you know, they all pull for each other, they

35:51

all root for each other, and they all learn from

35:53

each other.

35:53

And guys have come from you know, different buildings

35:55

too, so they've gathered a lot along the

35:57

way.

35:58

So receiver client appears

36:00

as deep as this one is one

36:03

of the challenges with that, and like,

36:06

do you group guys by Okay, these guys are

36:08

whatever's by style. I guess when you're breaking

36:11

down and decide we're gonna wind up

36:13

picking.

36:14

Yeah, that's an interesting question because we build

36:17

our board a certain way, but I would

36:19

say in general, we're looking for guys that

36:21

can separate, get open, catch the ball, run after

36:23

the catch.

36:24

That's kind of how we view things in general.

36:26

Receiver corners another position in the

36:28

league.

36:29

Where like guys come in all different shapes and sizes

36:31

and have you know, maybe highs or lows

36:33

here, and some of that is size.

36:36

But again, you know, the league's trending to a lot of eleven personnel.

36:38

You're gonna play with three receivers most of the

36:41

game, so you know, we put

36:43

a premium on guys that we believe can separate

36:45

and catch the ball, which you know Jamar has proven he

36:47

can do it at a high level.

36:49

So spens

36:51

this year studying these guys and years

36:53

in some cases. Are you ready to have a first round

36:55

pick?

36:56

Yeah, I'm looking forward to that.

36:57

Actually it'll be a lot more exciting probably

37:00

down here as well.

37:01

So, but

37:03

I mean, in general, it's funny. I remember

37:06

being asked this question.

37:07

Last year, and all we do is really shift our board and

37:09

just shift the players that you're focused on. So

37:11

it's like if you're if you're taking a receiver later,

37:14

you're still as excited about him sometimes or

37:16

a player being there in the fifth round, sixth

37:19

round as you would be getting you know, quote

37:21

unquote getting your guy in the first. So the

37:23

two guys that we added yesterday, we were very

37:26

excited you know that it end up working out and we

37:28

were able to add them to the roster. So

37:30

I would say there's like no shortage of excitement

37:33

when we're able to do that. But you

37:36

know, again, a first round pick is a huge resource, and

37:38

as we've seen the last couple of years, those can go a lot

37:41

of different ways, and you know, we deploy

37:44

our resources in a lot of different directions.

37:45

I would say, so, but yeah, it'd

37:47

be nice, nice to have that resource back looking

37:50

forward to it.

37:51

Jamari played part of the end or

37:53

like most of the end of the season with a broken hand. Could

37:56

you see that difference on film when you were watching

37:58

it? What I mean, what is it about a

38:00

guy when he wants to play through that and stay nfield?

38:02

Yeah?

38:02

I mean receivers that play through stuff like that and you

38:04

know your job is catching the ball. I think it just again

38:07

proves the makeup of who the kid

38:09

is. So, you know, tough,

38:11

competitive and smart is what we're looking

38:13

for in every position. I think he fits all that and

38:16

just one more example how he proves it.

38:18

So sounds about

38:20

any drop issues with him.

38:22

No, our scouts do a really good job of providing

38:24

that context. And you know, we have a

38:27

number of different lenses. We look at you know, drop

38:29

right stats, all those things, and we

38:31

really try to contextualize

38:33

things the best we can and really go over the player's whole

38:35

career, not just you know,

38:38

one small sample of his four or five years

38:40

playing college football games.

38:42

And pick three different

38:45

usiness with Franklin

38:47

or Franklin kind of combine

38:50

came here.

38:51

So you surprised he went so low.

38:54

I mean, we enjoyed our time with Troy too, you

38:57

know, wish him the best of luck where he ends up.

39:00

I would say, again, everybody's board is very different,

39:02

and you know where you're choosing players

39:04

in the drafts, you're kind of for us, we're looking at

39:06

bundles of players and the availability

39:09

to get players that we like at different

39:11

positions across you know, second, third,

39:13

fourth, fifth, sixth, whatever round it might be.

39:15

So but yeah, I mean good

39:17

player and wush them the best going forward.

39:19

So there's a lot of guys

39:21

who spend you know, time with through the process that

39:24

you're excited to see how they end up because you know

39:26

you had great experiences with them and.

39:28

Want to see how they do.

39:29

So wrapping up the day at the podium

39:32

was general manager Andrew Berry and head coach

39:34

Kevin Stefanski. They talked together to

39:36

recap all the picks in the twenty

39:39

twenty four NFL Draft and how they feel

39:41

the weekend went for your Cleveland Brown.

39:43

All right, So as we wrap up

39:45

draft weekend, very excited

39:48

with the you know, the group of players

39:50

that we were able to select this weekend. You

39:53

know, all of them have aspects that made

39:55

us excited about them as prospects.

39:58

And also as people are

40:01

you know, our scouts are coaches.

40:03

They've been hard to work, you know for the last little

40:05

bit, you know, signing undrafted free

40:07

agents something that's been you

40:10

know, really fruitful for us over

40:12

the past couple of years, but particularly last year, you know,

40:14

with with Ronnie Hickman and mamou So it's a it's an important

40:16

part of what we do and our

40:18

job's not not done yet. But we

40:22

like the young players that we've added to the team. We're looking

40:25

forward to seeing them integrate with the veterans as

40:27

we get into May. And with

40:29

that, I'll open up for questions.

40:33

For the surprise today that

40:36

maybe you could start with thrash.

40:38

Would you like so much about Chart?

40:39

Yeah, so, you know Jamari, we

40:42

liked his route skill and his separation ability.

40:45

You know, this is a guy that both it was

40:47

very productive at Georgia State and then transferring

40:50

up to Louisville, you know, really answered

40:52

the bell there and then really even through through

40:54

the Senior Bowl in January. We

40:57

view him as a guy who can play outside

40:59

and inside. You know, he's good with the ball in his

41:01

hands. So as

41:03

we think through our offense and are you know, fit within

41:06

that receiver room. We're looking forward to seeing

41:08

him compete, you know, compete for reps, and

41:10

we think he's a guy that has position flegs.

41:13

You go in the depth on drafting

41:15

Watson, what did you like about him?

41:17

Yeah, So with with Nathaniel,

41:21

So one of the things that we thought a lot about

41:23

when you know, we lost Siaki excuse

41:25

me, when we lost Sioni in uh in

41:28

free agency this this spring. You

41:30

know, one of the things that he was able to add when he played

41:33

both Mike and Sam is a

41:35

little bit more stoutness in the middle of the defense, you

41:38

know, particularly at the point of attack. And

41:40

we think that you know, Nathaniel, you

41:43

know, he's got good range, he's incredibly

41:46

smart, and he has good instincts. But he provides

41:48

maybe a little bit of a diverse profile

41:50

in that linebacker room because he

41:53

does have a little bit more strength and power at

41:55

the point of attack. So we see him as

41:57

a as a player that that has the potential to

41:59

make be developed into that type of role Mike

42:01

Sam flex and ultimately

42:04

be someone who's who's a candidate to call the

42:06

defense after he gets to see legs out from under him.

42:09

Well, see as you got later into

42:11

the you know, especially those last three picks.

42:14

How much are you guys sort

42:16

of looking special teams looking at, especially

42:19

with the changes that you're

42:21

going to deal with with the new kickoff

42:23

role, how they they could fit in there.

42:25

That's a great quest question, Chris.

42:26

That was actually a big part of the discussions with

42:29

a number of the prospects that we we

42:32

talked about and debated and you

42:34

know, some went off the board at different points, but it

42:36

was it was a big part of the discussions with

42:40

you know, as we thought kind of through the whole you

42:43

know, big picture profile of an

42:45

individual player.

42:46

So definitely definitely part of it.

42:48

Are you comfortable with lessons off field

42:51

stuff?

42:51

And do you think that's why he was still available.

42:52

Over the six round?

42:53

Yeah?

42:54

I can't comment on why, you know, how other teams

42:56

viewed him, but you know, we are comfortable with the

42:58

person, yes, And.

43:00

I guess I wonder how on see they don't you guys right because

43:03

he was in four or six years, so you've doesn't

43:05

work on him in previous drafts.

43:07

Yeah, I would say he's probably been on our radar as much

43:09

as any prospect in this in this class.

43:11

I wouldn't I wouldn't say that it was anything, you

43:14

know, too far off the norm.

43:16

In that regard where you

43:19

have a draft where you've.

43:20

Just kind of stayed put in major picker, because

43:22

there's something different about this draft.

43:25

It wasn't for a lack of effort.

43:26

I can assure you, Dan, Yeah, we

43:28

were talking about that as we were coming downstairs, like, man,

43:30

this is the first draft that we haven't executed a trade.

43:33

I blame it on Quazy and you can quote me on

43:35

that because we Kevin was joking as

43:37

like, I've never heard two people talk more

43:39

about trades involving seventh round picks

43:42

than the two of you and not get a deal done. But

43:45

we you know that we had a number of opportunities where

43:48

we were either trying to move around today and you know,

43:50

like we talked about yesterday, we had a couple opportunities,

43:52

but it just didn't It didn't make sense

43:54

for whatever reason.

43:55

But I would not say that that's going to be the new

43:57

Momo.

43:58

I think this is the fifth straight year you've drafted

44:00

a wide receiver. Is

44:04

is that a just a coincidence

44:06

or is that kind

44:09

of a just a byproduct

44:11

of the first two guys that you did draft

44:13

not.

44:13

Being here, Yeah, I think

44:15

it's probably a little bit more coincidence.

44:18

I mean, I think you see more. You know, that's gonna

44:20

be one of the more plentiful positions in terms

44:22

of just overall quantity year over year.

44:26

And then also just like as you as you think about

44:29

different positions and where you select them, like,

44:31

I don't, I wouldn't.

44:33

I wouldn't read too much into that, Daryl.

44:36

You guys are building bridges between Ohio State

44:38

and Michigan. I know you've spent some time with

44:41

Mike and with Zach. What was it like to see them together

44:43

today and just the general impressions on that,

44:45

No.

44:46

It was, it was great.

44:47

I mean, I think those two guys are

44:50

going to add a lot to our locker room in different

44:52

ways.

44:53

You know.

44:54

I think Mike with just his his passion

44:56

and his and his energy, and I

44:58

think Zach's kind of the just the steady,

45:01

you know, steady presence. But

45:04

I'm looking forward to seeing those two battle

45:06

it out on the practice field, you know, once we get

45:08

the pads on, and they're

45:11

both looking forward to being teammates us.

45:14

Trained a little bit at center. Is that maybe down

45:16

the line you guys look around with him.

45:18

Yeah, you know, very rarely will we bring

45:20

alignment in and have them work at one spot,

45:23

you know, especially you know, young players,

45:25

we want them to have, you know, positional

45:28

flexibility, and Zach's incredibly

45:30

smart and someone that we expect

45:33

to be able to handle a load of multiple spots.

45:36

When you look at the tight end room, was

45:39

at a position where you consider guys

45:41

during this draft, and I guess I know there's a lot of

45:43

time left in the offseason, but how do

45:45

you think it kind of stacks up right now?

45:47

Do you feel like maybe your.

45:48

Guys short Yeah, I'd say in any

45:50

room, we don't feel like we're done. You

45:53

know, the first game is until what

45:56

Labor Day weekend or after Labor Day weekend, so

45:58

we've got a long way to go. We can probably maybe catch

46:01

our breath for a day. But you know, I think

46:03

we talked about before the draft. You

46:06

know, it's zi areus we traded for on a Friday

46:08

night in the.

46:08

Middle of May.

46:09

Shelby we signed what

46:13

early August, and we traded for

46:15

Pierre and Dustin you know, at the end of camp.

46:17

So there's still work to do in the roster. And

46:19

that's not just limited to the

46:22

tight end room, but you

46:24

know that's what the next couple of months before in a.

46:26

Spot he came into the weekend going, we'd really

46:28

like to address that spot.

46:30

What do I typically say before the draft in terms of the draft?

46:34

Yes, or

46:36

at the end of the of

46:38

the Deshaun Watson trade, the last

46:40

pick was made by by

46:42

Houston, just wondering you

46:45

know what, you know, what do you think about

46:48

that now? Knowing that that's kind of behind

46:50

you in some respects and you'll

46:53

have a first round pick next year, can you sort

46:55

of wrap up where how you feel about the whole.

46:57

Thing right now?

46:57

I'll be honest in truth, Mary Kay, I haven't thought

47:00

about that way or like spend any time reflecting

47:02

on it. I really just look at it as, hey, here are

47:04

resources in a given year. How do we best apply them

47:06

to the team to to make it better in the short

47:08

and long term?

47:09

So that's that's

47:11

not something I really think about.

47:14

How much are you looking forward to having

47:16

something to do on Thursday.

47:17

Night next year?

47:19

For now?

47:20

Now, I look, it'll it'll be

47:22

great to have kind of our full complement of

47:24

draft picks back for sure.

47:26

How we deploy them? You know we'll see over the next year.

47:29

Could you speak to the developmental aspect

47:32

this?

47:32

You know, the bulk of this draft here seems

47:35

to be about bringing in some young

47:37

guys that maybe not immediately

47:40

are going to have an impact.

47:41

Maybe hope one or two of them can, but you

47:43

know, down the road they will. You

47:45

know, just how you get these guys in here?

47:48

Sure, we look at it. I mean, these are not finished products.

47:50

Some of them are very young obviously, Mike, Mike

47:53

is twenty years old. So, uh, these

47:55

these guys, these people are are developing,

47:58

you know, off the field. Obviously we're gonna

48:00

spend a lot of time with them on the field to develop

48:02

them and their skill set. But that's

48:05

that's a huge we talked about it yesterday. That's a huge part

48:07

of our job as coaches is to get as

48:09

much out of these players as we can. Uh,

48:11

and and we're eager to get to work with them in a

48:14

couple of weeks.

48:15

Ask you Kell, so, how excited you get

48:17

when you when you have a new draft class

48:20

and don't see them on the field here in a

48:22

in just a couple of weeks.

48:23

Yeah, we Uh, that's the thing, get seeing

48:25

them on the grass is what's most exciting, Uh, you

48:27

know, bringing them in here and uh, it's

48:30

a long, arduous process

48:32

and Ab and his crew did a great job and it's

48:34

so organized and uh, really

48:36

the they stayed true to really

48:39

the process, if you will. Then

48:41

when we get them on the grass, that's the fun part for the coaches,

48:43

where we can take them through an individual drill and and

48:46

start to acclimate them to our schemes.

48:48

Last week, you talked about potentially with the new kickoff

48:51

roles, the size of coverage players maybe

48:53

looking for some different things. Did Watson

48:55

size play a big factor in determining

48:58

determining his value.

48:59

On That's a great, great question observation.

49:01

It did his his style of play, did you

49:04

know?

49:04

I think it's something for us when when we went through

49:06

the process, you know, we thought he could fill

49:08

this or potentially fill this specialized

49:11

role at linebacker, but we also thought he

49:13

could be a multi face producer on special

49:15

teams and specifically with the

49:17

new kickoff rule. You know, as we talked about before the

49:19

draft, probably none of us really know how it's

49:21

how it's going to look and operate, but it

49:24

certainly is.

49:24

A specuative play on our part that we think that's something

49:26

that he could be good at.

49:29

Like rash who it sounds like he hasn't played

49:31

a ton of special teams, and that obviously becomes

49:33

such an important part for rookies.

49:34

Like how do you go about evaluating a guy

49:36

like that?

49:37

Basically?

49:37

Truthfully, with with receivers, they're unless

49:40

they're returners, they're typically not like

49:43

highly involved in special teams or

49:45

like I should maybe I should say it differently, they're not highly

49:49

impactful like multi face producers,

49:51

just because of what's required.

49:53

So I think guys that do that are a little bit more of the

49:56

exception to the rule.

49:57

But we always tell our guys like, hey, if you're not

49:59

you know, if or not Amari Cooper, like, you've got to

50:01

be able to do more to be active on

50:03

game day. So that'll certainly be you

50:07

know, not just a challenge to

50:09

Jamari, but really all of our young guys

50:11

who probably for a lot of their careers have

50:13

not played special teams and this will really be the first time.

50:16

How do you approach I know you're

50:19

not going to give names right now, but as

50:21

you try to approach that on the UDFA

50:23

class, what's kind of your

50:26

method?

50:26

What are you looking for as you kind of

50:28

piece that together.

50:30

So the way we look at it is any player

50:32

that we add to the

50:35

roster, they should have some some

50:37

clear strength, even if it's very narrow.

50:40

You know, are they someone who is

50:43

really fast or really strong, or someone

50:45

who can rust the pass, or

50:47

someone who's really good in the run game. You know, there

50:49

should be some type of clear strength for why

50:51

they are here. Because once we get

50:54

to September

50:56

and we're putting the team together, as you talk about

50:58

call it through

51:00

fifty three, it really is a puzzle pieces.

51:03

You're trying to compliment your your

51:06

starters and your primary players with

51:08

skill sets that you may lack in

51:10

certain areas. So when we go in

51:12

the undrafted free agent process, we're looking

51:14

for guys with straints and maybe you know, and

51:18

probably by definition those guys that are maybe a little

51:20

bit more limited coming in. But

51:22

it's like, hey, does this guy have size, you know, can he

51:25

run? Or if we have a certain

51:27

profile at the position, we're looking for the most important

51:29

trade. So maybe a perfect example would be you

51:31

know, Ronnie Hickman last year. You

51:33

know, we thought this was a guy who was athletic, who could run

51:36

and had great ball skills. So we're like, hey, this is

51:38

a guy who could be a developmental free safety for us.

51:40

And Ronnie came along even

51:42

more quickly than we anticipated,

51:45

but those strengths were something that we felt

51:47

would.

51:47

Complement our room.

51:49

I picked that a little bit too, because I thought I saw

51:51

you was on that freaks list. Was there something specifically

51:54

about his traits that jumped out.

51:55

Of you guys?

51:56

Yeah?

51:56

With Juwan, we really

51:58

thought that his maybe a little bit like

52:00

what we talked about with Michael yesterday, where his strength

52:03

he's kind of like a move style defensive tackle.

52:07

And and and for us, as we get into

52:09

the later rounds where we get into the undrafted free agent

52:11

pool, you'll see us choose

52:14

or select or sign guys that

52:16

are more that profile because of what we ask

52:18

our defensive line.

52:19

To do in this scheme.

52:21

Did to Miles Harden.

52:23

Yeah, so you know, Miles small

52:25

school corner who we

52:27

thought actually has a pretty well rounded skill set.

52:29

I think he probably has maybe a little bit more

52:32

from our perspective, Uh, you know, a nickel

52:35

nickel profile with even maybe some potential

52:37

to to flex at safety, but really

52:39

smart kid was productive,

52:42

you know, out of South Dakota, you

52:45

know, good enough tools for the position, and I

52:47

think as you know, Nate, you know corner will always be a

52:49

premium spot.

52:50

For us for defense to

52:53

offense. Did it just kind of turn out that way? You

52:55

didn't go into the draft thinking that.

52:56

You needed to go heavy depend Yeah, it just

52:58

it kind of And and I'll be honest, like probably

53:01

going to the draft, if you would have asked me how it would

53:03

have shaped out, it probably would have been the other way,

53:05

just because of you know, some of the strengths and weaknesses

53:07

of the draft class. So it's just another

53:10

reminder to us that you just have to stay flexible

53:12

and adaptable with you

53:14

know, what the board throws at you. But you

53:16

know, we're excited about the young the the the

53:19

group of young men that we've added.

53:21

I know how you're going to answer this, but have

53:25

you made a decision on Greg's fifth your option?

53:27

Very happy with Greg wanted as many man corners

53:30

as we can have, and we'll

53:33

let you guys know when, uh, at the appropriate

53:35

time.

53:38

We're earlier. You're talking about traits.

53:40

I think last year you're talking

53:42

about horses and horses. Well,

53:45

is there is there something off

53:47

the top of your head like in this

53:50

draft class, this guy does X

53:52

really well and that stands out above the rest.

53:55

Yeah, that's a that's actually a really great question.

54:00

You know.

54:01

I think probably the easy one is

54:03

Mike just because you

54:06

know, his ability as a rusher, just both

54:08

with his physical tools and feel. It's

54:12

it's something that we put a premium value

54:14

on. But you know, I really

54:16

could go down the list. Like you know, Zach, we think is

54:19

you know, his superpower is he's an excellent past

54:21

protector. Jamari, he's an outstanding

54:23

separator. You know, Nathaniel, you

54:26

know, he's really good in the run game, particularly using

54:28

his strength. You know, Miles is

54:30

probably a little bit of his you know, his instincts and versatility.

54:33

And then Juwan it's his it's his movement ability.

54:35

So that's not to say that all

54:38

those individuals are isolated to that you

54:40

know, primary feature, but it's

54:42

certainly something that that made

54:45

them attractive to us.

54:48

Let me go here, Darrel, I'm.

54:50

Curious if in the fifth round they're

54:53

a little brotherly instinct in

54:55

play when the Eagles came

54:57

up and jumped you guys, try to get to your mind.

54:59

Try Oh no, there

55:02

wasn't. I'd like to say there was a better story

55:04

to that, but no, there wasn't.

55:06

There wasn't.

55:09

It's one thing to rebuild a roster,

55:12

it's another to kind of get the wheel

55:15

of talent flowing, so to speak, where you

55:17

can cultivate your own to

55:19

compensate for any losses. Do you feel that, now

55:23

you're as deep as you are into

55:25

this, that you've gotten to that stage

55:27

and roster building where you feel like that

55:30

that wheel was starting to naturally

55:33

turn for you as opposed to you're

55:35

constantly filling poles and.

55:37

Things like that. Yeah, truthfully I do, Darryl,

55:40

I certainly hope so. But we feel

55:43

good about the health and depth of the roster.

55:47

We won't know till we get to the fall, because

55:50

you know, as I say, every year, guys surprise you in both

55:53

you in both directions, and

55:56

things change fast in the NFL, you know, as we see.

55:58

So as we sit

56:00

here today, though we're happy with where we stand,

56:02

we're not satisfied, and we know that we

56:04

still have work to do and in

56:07

areas to bolster and supplement,

56:10

but we do feel good about the health

56:12

as we stand today.

56:15

Perhaps a quarterback, maybe in undrafted

56:18

or somewhere that you guys can bring in here because it seems

56:20

like you might need another arm

56:23

or a developmental player with what's going on with

56:25

Deshaun and Dorian.

56:25

I'd say that's unlikely.

56:27

Yeah, draft is perfect.

56:30

Did you guys accomplish what you guys wanted to accomplish

56:32

this weekend and maximizing

56:35

those late round picks?

56:36

I'd say so, number one. I

56:39

mean don't. I don't know that anyway.

56:40

Everyone's gonna say they accomplished what they intended

56:43

to accomplish, But the truth is none of us actually

56:45

know. All we can say is

56:47

we tried to make the best decisions. You

56:50

know that we're at the moments that they

56:52

were placed in front of us. You

56:55

know, I think we had some goals in terms of

56:57

pick management or resource management that we

57:00

just we weren't afforded or we weren't afforded the right

57:02

opportunity to execute on. But

57:05

that being said, we're happy with the group of players that we're

57:07

bringing in.

57:08

That's it for today on from the

57:10

Podium. You can like and subscribe today

57:12

to from the Podium wherever you get your podcasts.

57:15

To find more episodes, be sure to check out

57:17

the Browns social media platforms. Check

57:19

out YouTube, dot com, Slash Browns, and the

57:22

Cleveland Browns mobile app. You're gonna get all the

57:24

latest news. Is the off season rolls on here

57:26

in Biria. We got rookie Mini camp

57:28

right around the corner, so you're not gonna want to miss

57:30

any news from that. First time we'll

57:32

get to see these new rookies. I'm

57:34

Jake Melentzig and thanks for listening to the Browns

57:37

from the Podium podcast