The Cleveland Browns actually have one more Round 1 pick on their roster than the Packers do. Overall the Browns have 29 players originally drafted from Rounds 1-4 versus 26 for the Pack. The Packers have more Round 5 and 6 draft picks on their roster, while the Browns have three more undrafted players on their roster. Overall, rounds 5-7 plus undrafted account for 27 Packers versus 24 Browns.
That is a bit surprising. Recently I wrote an article pointing out that Browns are operating at a distinct disadvantage compared to Baltimore because the Ravens have more early round draft picks on their roster than the Browns. This is not surprising after years of giveaways for recycled superstars such as Odell Beckham, Jr. and especially Deshaun Watson. However, surprisingly, the Browns compare more favorably versus the supposedly invincible Green Bay Packers, who are favored by -9.5 points in our house for Game 3.
Of course, the draft is not always an accurate indicator of talent. Sometimes the undrafted player makes All-Pro, while the first round pick flames out after a year or two. Plus, the free agent process adds some variables. The Packers are a very young team, with only the long snapper and placekicker aged 30 or older, whereas the Browns have 11 guys age 30 or older.
Nevertheless, if the scouting department knows what it is doing, it should be hitting on its early round draft picks. It is a bit weird that the Packers are more represented by late round picks than early picks.
Perhaps what we are seeing is that the Packers let their draft picks go rather than re-resigning them, and they have been awarded compensatory picks, which tend to be later round picks. They would rather have young players from late rounds rather than early round players on their second contract, perhaps. That trend may continue, now that they have traded for Micah Parsons and their first round picks for the next two seasons now belong to Dallas.
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