NEW YORK -- The Cleveland Browns have used the third overall
pick in the N-F-L draft to improve their offensive line, taking
Wisconsin left tackle Joe Thomas.
Thomas won the Outland Trophy as college football's top
offensive interior lineman and was a consensus All-American last
season. He thought about leaving Wisconsin a year early before
tearing his A-C-L while filling in on the defense at the Capital
One Bowl. But Thomas returned to start all 13 games as a senior.
Thomas checks in at over six-six and 306 pounds. He is a natural
athlete with surprisingly good agility and body control. He is
exceptional in one-on-one coverage with enough body control to pick
up oncoming rushers.
Thomas rarely displayed a mean streak in college and hasn't
shown to be a punishing blocker. He needs to keep his hands up
higher to prevent defenders from gaining leverage on him. It took
him a while to return to the form he displayed prior to his knee
injury.