Instant Reaction: What experts are saying about Cleveland Browns drafting Mike Hall
COLUMBUS — Mike Hall went to high school in Streetsboro, Ohio. He went to college at Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. Now, he’s starting his NFL career in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Browns selected the former Buckeyes defensive tackle with the No. 54 overall pick in the second round Friday night.
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Hall demonstrated his ability to wreak havoc at the Senior Bowl, especially as a pass rusher, and was named the top National team defensive lineman of the week at the pre-draft all-star event in Mobile, Alabama.
He was third among Ohio State defenders in pressures generated (29) this past season, according to Pro Football Focus. Hall finished 2023 with a career-high 24 total tackles but only 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The year before, though, he had 7.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks.
Here’s what the experts had to say about the inconsistent but high-potential Hall.
What Mel Kiper Jr. said about former Ohio State DT Mike Hall Jr. going to Cleveland…
Kiper on Hall going to Cleveland, via ESPN: “[In] run situations, stuffing the run, holding the point, freeing up [linebackers], that’s not going to be his game. His game is going to be getting upfield. Because he will be a liability in the NFL against the run. He’s kind of built for the way the game’s played today with defensive line play. That run stuffer, that’s not Michael Hall’s game. You can move him out. So he’s going to have to be a pass rusher to add value in the second round.”
What Booger McFarland said about former Ohio State DT Mike Hall Jr. going to Cleveland…
McFarland on Hall going to Cleveland, via ESPN: “The first thing that jumps off to me is his quickness. Another guy who’s 6-foot-1, 6-foot-2, 290 pounds. But he’s got that first-step quickness. Anytime that you’re running a 4-3 [defense], you’re looking for a guy that has that twitch, that can get upfield. The problem is, didn’t see it enough. Limited experience. But when he’s in there, he shows flash. He shows the quickness, the ability to play A gap to A gap, B gap to B gap. Down at the Senior Bowl, I thought he was the best pass rusher on the interior. He can play basketball on grass, the ability to give you the crossover and make the offensive lineman lean one way and go back the other way. The upside is truly there. I just didn’t see the consistency of the flashes that he showed. He needs to show them more.”
What Louis Riddick said about former Ohio State DT Mike Hall Jr. going to Cleveland…
Riddick on Hall going to Cleveland, via ESPN: “I’ll tell you, though, that first-step quickness, it is there. What’s the No. 1 thing … that interior pass rushers or EDGE pass rushers need? They need snap reaction, ball reaction to give themselves a shot. And Cleveland needed that. They need somebody on the interior to give them some push. And he’s a guy who’s a perfect project, a perfect project because of the way he plays. The block scheme recognition in the run game. It’s all there for him. Just can you finish off now with more sacks and pressures? He has the physical tools to do it.”
