Drake Nevis - DT
College: LSU
Height: 6-0 Weight: 294
Projection: 2nd to 4th round
The Browns are definitely in the market for defensive linemen. The focus has been more on defensive ends but Ahtyba Rubin could use a counterpart in the center of the line. Since there are so many defensive linemen in this draft, there should be a steal available in the later rounds. Drake Nevis might slip to a point where the Browns would be foolish not to take him.
Browns Gold
Nevis has a low center of gravity and can get a lot of leverage at the point of attack. A very strong player who uses his hands well to shed blockers, he plays with a non-stop motor. He is intense, aggressive and has shown a lot of toughness playing at times with injuries that would sideline other players. Nevis uses his varied rush moves and counters to get behind the line of scrimmage recording 13 tackles for a loss last year. He is a hard worker and a team leader with a lot of upside. Nevis has a mean streak and wouldn't it be nice to see the Browns inspire some fear in opposing offenses?
Fools Gold
Nevis could be bigger and that means that sometimes he gets smothered by larger O-linemen--a lot of which he'll see at the next level. He has shorter arms and he sometimes lets himself get too upright and pushed around. He needs work on his lateral movement and is not very fast. One of the things that causes him to slide in projections is that he was only a starter for 12 games.
The Browns really need a boost on the inside of the line. At worst, Nevis would be a situational player but if he can be coached up he has the athleticism, drive and potential to be an anchor player in the Browns new defense. If he falls to the 4th round it will be a definite steal to pick up Nevis.