2017 NFL Draft Results: Cleveland Browns Pick DT Larry Ogunjobi at No. 65

The Cleveland Browns made headlines in the second round when they selected QB DeShone Kizer with the 52nd pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. It wasn’t long before they were on the clock again, this time at the start of the third round. With the 65th pick, the Browns selected DT Larry Ogunjobi (6-3, 304 lbs). The pick was announced by former Browns WR/KR Josh Cribbs:

Scouting Reports

When the staff at Dawgs By Nature compiled our Browns big boards, Ogunjobi was near the bottom of it. However, here is a scouting report from CBS Sports' Dane Brugler, who ranked him as a second-round prospect and his fourth-best defensive tackle in this year’s draft:

A four-year starter at Charlotte, Ogunjobi lined up mostly as the nose tackle in the 49ers’ 3-4 base scheme and will be remembered as one of the founding players of the program, starting every game in school history. His size, length and core strength aren’t ideal, but he has the initial quickness and body control to wedge through gaps and create confusion in the backfield. While he is still developing the fundamentals, Ogunjobi uses his leverage and very active hands to detach from blocks and close on the target. He played mostly over the center or A-gap at Charlotte, but projects best as a one-gap, penetrating three-technique at the next level with his quick, balanced skill-set.

And here is what Pro Football Focus said about Ogunjobi:

The mid-rounds of 2017 will be an absolute goldmine for teams searching for a base package nose tackle. Ogunjobi might be the best of the bunch. He likely won’t last until Day 3 after solid Senior Bowl and combine performances boosted his stock. Ogunjobi established his reputation prior to the offseason circuit, wrecking Conference USA with his strength on the interior. He may not have been facing elite competition, but the Charlotte product stood up to double-teams consistently in his final two years of college. Ogunjobi was ridiculously productive against the run, generating 77 stops in 2015 and 2016 combined. Although clearly superior on early downs, he’s also a competent power rusher, suggesting Ogunjobi has potential to contribute even in the nickel.

Here are some quotes from scouts’ assessment on Ogunjobi, as collected by Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:

• “He is an athlete for sure. Got great takeoff, great quickness, really good kid. He overthinks a lot of stuff. He’ll get pushed around at the point of attack when you have to two-gap. Plays hard.”
• “He’s talented, really talented. There’s some issues with the shoulders, no doubt about it.”
• “If he’s focused, he can jolt you and shed you. But quite often he gets hung up on blocks. He will be a project.”

How He Fits the Browns

He was on the North team at the Senior Bowl, so the Browns got a pretty close look at him. This bolsters Cleveland’s front seven, and with all the top defensive backs off the board, sticking with a defensive prospect was the right move.

React Now

What do you think, Browns fans?