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2015 NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns Pick DT Xavier Cooper at No. 96 Overall

By Chris Pokorny
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

We thought the Cleveland Browns were done for the day, but right at the end of the third round, they traded back in with the New England Patriots! With the No. 96 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected DT Xavier Cooper. Earlier in the day, the Browns drafted DE/OLB Nate Orchard at No. 51 overall and RB Duke Johnson at No. 77 overall.

I'm a big fan with the Browns addressing the defensive line again, as earlier in the day I was calling for Cleveland to take a guy like DT Grady Jarrett. Cooper doesn't have the same size to be a nose tackle type of player, but he should be a rotational player at defensive end this year and another insurance policy in case the team does not re-sign DL Phil Taylor after this season.

Here is what CBS Sports' Dane Bruglar said about Cooper:

Cooper didn’t play football until high school, but it’s easy to see his background in soccer and basketball with his athletic movements on the football field, playing well on his feet. He was diagnosed with a learning disability in high school, but is only eight credits away from his undergrad degree in Criminal Justice. Cooper has terrific initial quickness for his size with active hands to catch blockers off-balance, although he needs to improve his discipline and technique in order to become a more reliable player from snap-to-snap. He played mostly a five-technique role in Washington State’s 3-4 base defense and offers some versatility, but is ideally suited as a penetrating three-technique in a four man front – flash player with a lot of good football ahead of him as long as he stays focused.

Here are the parameters of the trade:

What do you think, Browns fans?

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