2021 NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns Pick Richard LeCounte III at No. 169

With the 169th pick in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected safety Richard LeCounte III from Georgia.

The 5-foot-10 and 196-pound LeCounte was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs.

Scouting Reports

Here is a scouting report from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, who had LeCounte as his 18th-ranked safety on his board:

A three-year starter at Georgia, LeCounte lined up at strong safety in Kirby Smart’s 3-3-5 base scheme, playing mostly to the field side. He was one of three five-star recruits from the Bulldogs’ 2017 class and quickly established himself as one of the team’s locker-room leaders and standout defenders. LeCounte plays with outstanding pursuit range and decisiveness, competing with the fearless mentality required. However, there is a fine line between aggressive and undisciplined, and he spends time on both sides, leading to feast or famine plays. Overall, LeCounte competes with outstanding play speed and energy, but you have to live with the inconsistencies. His tape gives off vibes of an undersized version of Marquise Blair.

How He Fits the Browns

The Browns are going to be playing three safeties as much as possible this season, but if anything LeCounte III will have to earn his roster spot on special teams. Given that Elijah Benton, Sheldrick Redwine and Jovante Moffatt are all that stand between LeCounte III and a roster spot, that might not be such a difficult hurdle to clear.

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What do you think, Browns fans?