By: Patt Pitts
Football fans caught a glimpse into the 2021 NFL season with last Thursday’s draft. Fan bases watched and reacted to a new batch of players to help bring their team to glory.
Many teams felt they walked away from the draft with “a steal” in a specific round. But the Browns stunned fans with their second-round pick.
The Cleveland Browns drafted Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in the second round. Many analysts, including myself, believed Koramoah would be a first-round pick. Health concerns brought down his draft stock.
The Browns capitalized on the declining draft stock. He is the missing piece that the defense needed to make a serious playoff push in 2021. His mixed ability to defend the pass and rush the pass gives that boost Cleveland needed.
What makes Koraomoah so unique?
In the 2020 NFL Draft, there was an astronomical amount of hype around Isaiah Simmons. His ability to rush the QB and cover the pass grabbed analysts’ attention. However, it did not work out.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is a different story.
He stands six feet and one inch tall, weighing 216 lbs of pure muscle. The safety-turned linebacker has become a significant problem for opposing offenses. He has the speed of a defensive back but the build of an EDGE rusher. How do you game plan for that?
The NFL comparison that best fits Koramoah is Kam Chancellor. It may be a very bold comparison, but hear me out.
The first example is in his pass coverage ability. Koramoah creates problems for opposing quarterbacks with his ability to read their eyes. He locks in on the QB, forcing him to make a mistake or even turn over the ball. Kam Chancellor is one of the best safeties of all time due to his ability to anticipate the quarterback’s next move and break up or potentially intercept the pass.
Another aspect is their ability to blitz the quarterback when they least expect it. Koramoah pops in a quarterback’s line of vision at the last possible second. Before he can react, the QB finds himself buried into the ground. Being run over by a car hurts less.
Finally, Koramoah hits ball carries with superhero strength. He reads the play in front of him, then sprints towards the ballcarrier to beat them to a spot. Once he has the advantage, it is like being hit by a semi-truck. Balls pop loose. Passes knocked in the air. Koramoah is a playmaker.
The Cleveland Browns have turned over a new leaf, with Kevin Stefanski leading the charge. Koramoah could not have fallen into a better situation. His style complements the defense well, especially with Myles Garrett and newly signed FA Jadeveon Clowney on each side of the line in front of him.
The Browns made a smart draft choice. It is Koramoah’s time to prove it.
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