Browns Add CB, OL in Fifth Round

The Cleveland Browns addressed a couple of needs in the fifth round, selecting UT-Chattanooga defensive back Buster Skrine with the 137th overall pick, and then traded up to grab Pittsburgh tackle Jason Pinkston. The Browns gave up both sixth round selections to acquire Pinkston.

In Skrine the Browns are getting speed. He had the fastest cone drill and 20 yard shuttle times of any cornerback at the combine. His 40 yard dash time was 4.37, but he has been clocked as fast as 4.22 and was on the track team. He performed well in the bench press, but some scouts say that he has difficulty breaking blocks.Unlike some of the Browns’ previous picks this year, there are no character issues with Skrine. He is considered a well above average student and was a team captain.

Jason Pinkston is a little bit of an enigma. Scouting reports were all over the map on this guy, from late 2nd/early 3rd all the way to 6th round projections. The knock on Pinkston seems to be his work ethic, particularly an aversion to the weight room. The Browns seem to think that won’t be an issue, and think he can play either guard or tackle at the pro level.

With the trade, the Browns have only 1 pick remaining in this draft. It is a compensatory pick late in the seventh round.