2015 NFL Draft: AFC North Picks Browns Select Nate Orchard

The Browns had a relatively quiet first round of the 2015 NFL Draft considering how crazy they were last year even with two picks in the first round. The second round, however, is a different story. Originally slated to pick 43^rd overall the Browns traded back with the Houston Texans to pick from the 51^st spot.

The Browns selected DE Nate Orchard from Utah. Orchard is a 6’3”, 250 lb. defensive lineman who had five tackles and two quarterback hits in this year’s Senior Bowl.

His strengths include foot quickness and his hand movements. He also has good upper-body flexibility to beat blockers. His weaknesses include his lack of skills against the run and he has some inconsistency problems.

Good news for the Steelers would be to just run Le’Veon Bell and/or DeAngelo Williams right at him and attack his weaknesses. Orchard only had one season in school with high sack numbers so he’s not necessarily the biggest threat to go after Ben Roethlisberger during the Steelers and Browns meetings.

Orchard joins the defense with Browns first round pick from yesterday, Danny Shelton although Orchard did not lift Goodell off of his feet much to my dismay. NFL.com’s draft profile compares Orchard mostly to Trent Cole but warns teams that his one season of sack dominance could be either a sign that he was progressing or a sign that he has inconsistency issues.

The Browns will find out and so will the Steelers when they meet the Browns in Week 10 and then again in Week 17. Have the Browns made the right picks so far to contend in the AFC North? Does this take them out of the basement or just keep them in their ever going “rebuilding phase”?

What do you think of the Nate Orchard pick for the Browns?

Next: Steelers Select CB Senquez Golson in the 2nd Round

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