Report: Owusu-Koramoah had heart issue

The mystery of why the Browns were able to draft Jeremiah OwusuKoramoah late in the second round when the Notre Dame linebacker was projected as a first-round pick has been solved.

Owusu-Koramoah had a heart condition that made some teams apprehensive about using a high pick on him, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

“Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah had a heart issue that came up late in the process and was a concern for most teams, which is why he fell out of the first round and to pick No. 52 with Cleveland, per sources,” Schefter tweeted on May 3. “Doctors ultimately cleared OwusuKoramoah but it did contribute to him falling.”

The team’s Chief Strategy Officer, Paul DePodesta, spoke to the media immediately after the Browns traded up from 59 to 52 to select the 221-pound linebacker. He was asked several times if there was any medical reason a player so highly regarded in virtually every mock draft dropped as far as he did. Pro Football Focus, for example, had Owusu-Koramoah ranked as the 19th best player in the draft.

“No,” DePodesta said. “He didn’t run a 40 at his pro day and we knew he was sort of a little dinged up, but he participated otherwise in his pro day. No, there is nothing that would prohibit him going forward with us.”

EVP of Football Operations Andrew Berry speculated Owusu-Koramoah dropped because he doesn’t fit some defenses. Berry made no reference to JOK’s heart, even though the report did not bother the Browns.

“I have no idea how any of the other teams had Jeremiah stacked on the board,” Berry said. “I do think Jeremiah is a little unique in the manner in which he produces so he’s not going to necessarily be everybody’s flavor or fit. You’re talking about a player who’s a little bit undersized for a classic linebacker.”

The Browns had to know about JOK’s heart condition, but team doctors are satisfied it will not prohibit him. DePodesta was asked one more time at the conclusion of his news conference why Owusu-Koramoah fell to the 52nd pick.

“That’s a great question, but not one we’re going to concern ourselves with,” DePodesta said. “Sometimes, the board falls your way. I think we were just fortunate in this case. Now, he didn’t get all the way to No. 59. Obviously, we had to move up to go get him, but there were a lot of good players who were available today that we were surprised about. He wasn’t the only one.”

DePodesta said the Browns considered taking JOK in the first round with the 26th pick, but they selected cornerback Greg Newsome instead.