Getty ImagesA former potential first-round draft pick, cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu fell all the way to the seventh round in this year’s draft after an ACL tear and dislocated knee ended his college career.
The injuries will keep Ekpre-Olomu off the field in 2015 as well.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Browns head coach Mike Pettine said Ekpre-Olomu will likely miss his entire rookie season as he continues to recover from the injuries suffered last December.
“Players that have had this injury before, it’s rare that you would return that season,” Pettine said. “Given our depth, we’re very comfortable with him sitting out. That’s just one that we felt it was a low-risk, high-reward move when we took him in the seventh round. There’s no reason to rush it back given the depth in that room now anyway.”
The Browns took a flier on Ekpre-Olomu with their final selection, No. 241 overall in the seventh round, in hopes that he can return to his former self in time. Ekpre-Olomu posted 244 tackles and nine interceptions in four seasons at Oregon. He was injured in a December practice in preparation for the Rose Bowl against Florida State.
As a Steelers fan, this pick by the Browns was well worth the risk.
Definitely a low risk potential high reward if he can bounce back 100%. I wonder if he had an insurance policy to safe guard himself for injury while he was at Oregon? I think it’s fairly common for potential 1st rounders to do it. Just don’t know if he did or not.