The Browns on Saturday selected Alabama LB Mack Wilson with the No. 155 pick in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Wilson is the Browns' fourth selection in the draft and fourth on the defensive side of the ball, following LSU CB Greedy Williams (No. 46), BYU LB Sione Takitaki (No. 80) and Miami S Sheldrick Redwine (No. 119).
"I feel like I have to prove people wrong but I just want to show that in this draft I was the best linebacker," Wilson said. "There were 31 teams that slipped up on me, and somebody is going to have to feel all the pain that I had built up these past few days."
Take a look at photos of new Browns LB Mack Wilson, the 155th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Portrait of Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson during the NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson returns an interception against Tennessee during the second half an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Alabama's Mack Wilson runs the 40-yard dash at the Alabama's NFL Pro Day, Tuesday, March 19, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
FILE - In a Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016 file photo, Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson (30) tackles Florida running back Mark Thompson (24) during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, in Atlanta. Alabama has used freshman linebacker Mack Wilson and Nagurski Award winning defensive end Jonathan Allen (6-3, 291 pounds) as goal line blockers.(AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson (30) signals during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (7) tries to escape pressure from Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson (30) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Alabama won 24-0. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson (30) intercepts a pass and returns it for a touchdown in the second half of the Sugar Bowl semi-final playoff game against Clemson for the NCAA college football national championship, in New Orleans, Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Clemson's Travis Etienne is stopped by Alabama's Xavier McKinney and Mack Wilson during the first half the NCAA college football playoff championship game, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson (30) lines up for the play against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
An All-SEC second team selection in 2018, Wilson had 71 tackles and two interceptions while starring in the center of the Crimson Tide's vaunted defense. He emerged as a force during Alabama's title run the previous season, earning his first start in the Crimson Tide's National Semifinal win over Clemson and following with 12 tackles, two for a loss, in the Crimson Tide's dramatic National Championship win over Georgia.
"I think he is good in coverage. He plays the run well. He is a good football player, and he loves the game. He loves to compete," Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said. "Those are all attributes that we like and that we try to look for."
A former five-star prospect out of Montgomery, Alabama, Wilson saw the field in all 15 games of his freshman season, starring mostly on special teams. He also appeared on offense occasionally as an H-back.
"Coming in my freshman year, I knew I was going to have some guys in front of me. That shows you my will to just compete and try to get a spot on the team," Wilson said. "I knew all those guys were in front of me, but that wasn't going to stop me from coming to Alabama than try to take the easy route to another school where I know I could possibly start my freshman year. I learned as much as I can from those guys, and I feel like they helped me develop my game to a different level. My junior year, I got a chance to start and I just feel like it was natural because I sat behind all those veterans guys who knew the game and I was able to learn a lot. That was my time to do it. It was second nature to me."
