The Cleveland Browns already added one rookie running back, and now they have another. Undrafted free agent Adonis Thomas impressed enough during his tryout to earn a contract and an invitation to training camp. The Browns cut running back Armond Smith to make room.
Thomas still has an uphill battle to make the final roster, competing with Montario Hardesty, Brandon Jackson and Chris Ogbonnaya, but he may have the skill set the Browns are looking for in their third-string running back.
While it didn’t come as a huge surprise when Thomas went undrafted, he was a personal favorite of mine and earned a late 3rd-round grade. He’s lacks the elite speed of a typical third-down back, but otherwise has the skill set teams look for to fill that hole. He’s an elite receiver out of the backfield and a tough runner for his size.
A broken arm caused him to miss time in 2011, which could have led to his fall in the draft. But before the injury, Thomas played a key role in Toledo’s near upset of Ohio State.
