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2014 NFL Draft Grades: First Round Roundup

Here's a quick look at how some of the web is grading the Browns first round.

Elsa

The Cleveland Browns moved up and down the board in the first round, and ultimately ended up with one of their better, if not best, first rounds ever (at least on paper).

I've charted some of the sites around the web and how they're grading the Browns first round picks. Each of the sites is linked, so you can check out their further analysis to the picks. Below that I've added my grades and my take.

Site Pick Grade
#8 Justin Gilbert, CB Oklahoma St. #22 Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M
CBS Sports C A
Sports Illustrated B A
SB Nation B- A-
Cleveland.com *A *A
Bleacher Report A- A+
Walter Football C+ A+
NFL.com *"Passed with flying colors" " "
Average B A

*denotes grade for entire round

Miller's Take

#8 Justin Gilbert, CB Oklahoma St.

I wanted to go with an A here, but I'll settle for a B+. I think the fact that we added a 2015 first round pick that can very easily be top-15, is enough to grade this passing even if they drafted me. Cleveland moved back 5 spots and still, by all accounts, got the man they wanted. Farmer really did a number here.

Gilbert has the size and athleticism to be a very good corner opposite of Joe Haden. A lot of analysts had Gilbert as their #1 CB on the board. There will be a lot made of the fact that he is a top-10 pick, but the fact of the matter is, the Browns defense should be very good next year.

NFL Network's Mike Mayock had good things to say about Gilbert:

Understand that Mike Pettine is a former defensive coordinator. He's used to having a shutdown cornerback. He's 6-foot, 202 pounds and ran a 4.37. He's the prototype cornerback in today's NFL.

Grade: B+

Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M

I was firmly in the "Draft Manziel #4 Camp", so to move around in the first round and ultimately get him at #22 is not only a solid, solid pick, but great value as well.

Manziel may be the most polarizing player in the draft, but there's no question that he'll energize the fanbase like no one else. However you may feel about Manziel, when he walked on stage and did his signature 'money' sign, you couldn't help but be excited, right? I sure as hell was.

What can be said about Johnny Football that hasn't already been said? Love the pick, love the value.

Grade: A++