Only a few rookies make significant impacts on teams competing for a Super Bowl appearance but the select few do. Could defensive tackle Tommy Togiai be that rookie for the Cleveland Browns?
The 2021 offseason has been full of a lot of exciting additions to the Browns starting in free agency and continuing through the NFL draft. In the draft, Greg Newsome II and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah get the most hype while Anthony Schwartz’s speed might be the most exciting single trait of any of the draft picks.
Despite all of that it is actually Togiai that is in a position to make the biggest impact.
The second fourth rounder for the team, Togiai fell farther than most experts predicted but fell into a situation where he could be used quickly.
At cornerback, Newsome will compete for snaps in a room with Denzel Ward, Troy Hill and Greedy Williams. With Joe Woods noting his desire for a lot of nickel and dime packages, Owusu-Koramoah will compete for limited snaps with Anthony Walker, Malcolm Smith and Sione Takitaki, as well as fellow rookie Tony Fields II.
While Schwartz’s speed is unique, the Browns receiver room is quite deep while James Hudson, also drafted in the fourth round with Togiai, would need an injury to see time on the offensive line.
The team’s last two picks, Richard LeCounte III and Demetric Felton could be competing for roster spots and, if they make the team, special teams snaps more than snaps on defense and offense, respectively.
Togiai’s path to making an impact isn’t clear but doesn’t have the same limitations that his fellow rookies have. Veteran Malik Jackson will get his share of snaps along with Jordan Elliott at the 3-technique but Togiai could battle with Andrew Billings as the Browns starting nose tackle as well as rotate at the 3-tech spot as well.
As ESPN’s Jake Trotter noted, Togiai stood out so far this offseason and could be a steal:
The fourth-round pick out of Ohio State has made a splash during both OTAs and minicamp. The combination of power and quickness is there. Considering one of Cleveland’s projected starting defensive tackles has an injury history (Malik Jackson) and the other (Andrew Billings) didn’t play in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns, Togiai could become an important piece up front for the Browns.
The Browns expect big things from their 2021 draft class in the long term but, for this season, it could be their fourth-round pick that makes the biggest impact.