Analyzing Oklahoma S Billy Bowman as a potential draft pick for Cleveland
The Cleveland Browns need to add depth and starting-quality players to the safety room heading into 2025, and this year’s NFL Draft class is loaded with options for Andrew Berry and Co. to choose from.
The Browns are currently set to lose three safeties this offseason, including starting free safety Juan Thornhill, who the team is officially releasing.
Oklahoma S Billy Bowman is a player who could be on the Browns’ radar heading into draft weekend due to his versatility, ball skills, and aggressiveness.
Billy Bowman Jr, underrated.
pic.twitter.com/gogm742azi— Patriot RedZone (@PatriotRedZone) January 28, 2025
Name
Billy Bowman
Position
Safety
Height/Weight
5’9.5”, 198 lbs.
College
University of Oklahoma
2024 Stats: 12 games: 54 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 INTs, 3 pass deflections, 2 FR
Career: 47 games: 199 tackles, 10 TFL, 11 INTs, 3 INT TDs, 14 pass deflections, 3 FR, 2 FF
Relative Athletic Score
N/A. Will update once athletic testing is performed.
Average “Big Board” Position As of Publishing Date from Mock Draft Database
The Draft Network’s Grade/Round Value
Day 2 – Winning Starter
What an Expert is Saying
“Bowman projects best as a deep coverage player at the NFL level. He offers the vision and instincts on the back end to play in the high post or as a deep-half player.
Playing deep zones will mitigate his run fit and tackling inconsistencies. There, he can project as an NFL starter with an emphasis on his coverage abilities.” – Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd team
Fit with the Browns
Bowman is an incredibly versatile defensive back who can play both free safety and nickel at the next level.
This is an important note because it just so happens to be where Cleveland needs to improve in the secondary. Now that Juan Thornhill is officially being released in June and Rodney McLeod has retired, the team needs to find multiple replacements this offseason in the backend of the defense.
Browns Player Drafting Could Impact
It’s fair to say that the top in-house option to replace Thornhill is Ronnie Hickman, who’s played very well in a rotational role as an open-field safety.
Bowman’s the type of player who could immediately come in and compete with Hickman to either be the starting free safety or at least be the top rotational safety or slot in Nickel and Dime packages.
Priority
High.
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