Reception Perception: Browns make a refreshing first pick in Corey Coleman
By: Matt Harmon
April 29th, 2016
April 29th, 2016
The Browns hit a home run with Corey Coleman and their first pick under a new analytics era (Image: AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
One of the NFL’s most woebegone franchises in recent years, the Cleveland Browns, have not enjoyed a winning season since 2007. So in a move that raised some eyebrows, the Browns elected to try something new this offseason. In a seemingly full-on embrace of analytics, the team promoted Sashi Brown to executive VP of football operations, and hired Paul DePodesta as chief strategy officer.
Neither man came with any sort of football personnel background. Brown moved over from the Browns legal department. DePodesta is a much more well-known name, but earned his stripes as a front office member for several Major League Baseball teams. Most notably, he’s associated with the “Moneyball” strategy that helped the Oakland Athletics acquire strong talent despite a small payroll.
Aside from quarterback, wide receiver might be the position the Browns were weakest in over the last eight seasons, but the new regime hopes it solved the problem by taking Corey Coleman with the 15th overall selection.
Coleman was immensely productive in his final college season racking up 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns. His 1.7 touchdowns scored per game rate was the highest among the top prospects. Coleman underscored his impressive profile with a 4.37 40-yard dash, 129-inch broad jump and 40 1/2-inch vertical. Those figures were at or above the 90th percentile among receivers tested since 1999, per MockDraftable.
But even with all that data indicating future NFL success, many analysts questioned his ability to translate to the pro game, with many of the hang-ups a result of his role in the Baylor offense.
Neither man came with any sort of football personnel background. Brown moved over from the Browns legal department. DePodesta is a much more well-known name, but earned his stripes as a front office member for several Major League Baseball teams. Most notably, he’s associated with the “Moneyball” strategy that helped the Oakland Athletics acquire strong talent despite a small payroll.
Aside from quarterback, wide receiver might be the position the Browns were weakest in over the last eight seasons, but the new regime hopes it solved the problem by taking Corey Coleman with the 15th overall selection.
Coleman was immensely productive in his final college season racking up 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns. His 1.7 touchdowns scored per game rate was the highest among the top prospects. Coleman underscored his impressive profile with a 4.37 40-yard dash, 129-inch broad jump and 40 1/2-inch vertical. Those figures were at or above the 90th percentile among receivers tested since 1999, per MockDraftable.
But even with all that data indicating future NFL success, many analysts questioned his ability to translate to the pro game, with many of the hang-ups a result of his role in the Baylor offense.
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