Caleb Brantley's troubling problems away from the field didn't prevent the Browns from taking him with the 185th overall pick (sixth round) in the 2017 NFL Draft. But it turns out the Browns might not even keep him.
Brantley carried a second-round grade in the 2017 NFL Draft before allegedly knocked a woman out earlier this month. The former Florida defensive tackle was charged with misdemeanor battery, according to Alachua County Court records.
"On the above date and time, the [defendant] and [victim] were engaged in a verbal altercation due to crude comments made by the [defendant]," the police report read. "The [victim] (5-foot-6, 120 pounds) pushed the [defendant] (6-foot-3, 307 pounds). The [defendant] responded by striking the [victim] in the face knocking her unconscious. The [victim] sustained dental injuries that displaced a tooth and will require a root canal. The [defendant's] use of force was clearly out of retaliation and not self-defense. Additionally, the intensity of the [defendant's] force far exceeded what was reasonable or necessary."
Browns executive Sashi Brown indicated shortly after selecting Brantley that they might not even hang onto him due to the battery charge.
Exec VP Sashi Brown said charges against Caleb Brantley are very "concerning," says Browns still investigating and may not keep him.
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) April 29, 2017
Not wanting anything to do with Brantley makes sense.
One league source told me of #Browns Caleb Brantley: "A coach at school told every team he talked to 'stay away even if undrafted.'''
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) April 29, 2017
But drafting someone you might cut makes no sense whatsoever. If the Browns weren't finished investigating Brantley, why did they waste a draft pick on him? If the Browns end up cutting Brantley due to their investigation, they'll have no one to blame but themselves. They knew he was facing a misdemeanor battery charge. It wasn't a mystery.
Judging Brantley based on what he brings on the field, NFLDraftScout.com's Spencer Hall gave the Browns an A for the pick.
"A very talented DT prospect who has all the tools, but an inconsistent effort and motor is his biggest obstacle," he wrote. "Great value in Round 6, talent level is closer to second or third round."
Unfortunately for the Browns, Brantley's talent level isn't the only thing that matters. There's a reason why Brantley fell to the sixth round, and if the allegations turn out to be true, that reason is awful.
