The Browns could be hoping to land the draft’s No. 1 prospect and address a gargantuan need with both of their first-round picks in the upcoming draft. Cleveland is enamored with Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson but not with the No. 1 overall pick, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report notes. Instead, the Browns are eyeing the national champion signal-caller with the second of their two first-round selections.
Cleveland, of course, holds the No. 1 overall pick but may be hoping to grab both Myles Garrett and Watson in Round 1. A GM and multiple scouts point to the Browns’ brass planning a potential Watson pick at No. 12, the selection they obtained from the Eagles as part of the teams’ Carson Wentz-fronted deal last year.
Connected to multiple quarterbacks — with a previous report pointing to a potential homecoming for Cleveland-area product Mitch Trubisky — and Garrett, the Browns are becoming difficult to pin down thus far, especially after their showing in last year’s draft. Cleveland traded out of its first-round window on multiple occasions to stockpile picks yet passed on the draft’s top two quarterbacks in Jared Goff and Wentz before ultimately taking Cody Kessler in the third round. Miller notes the Browns may have seen something in Watson they did not in the coveted 2016 passers.
While quarterbacks’ stocks generally rise in the months between the season and the draft due to the scarcity of high-end talent at the position, Miller writes the Browns might not have to trade up for Watson. That runs counter to most drafts, but ESPN.com’s Mel Kiper Jr. doesn’t have Watson in the top 25 on his big board (ESPN Insider link). The longtime draft guru does project the two-time Heisman finalist going to the Bills at No. 10 in his initial 2017 mock draft (Insider link), so it’s far from certain Watson would fall out of the top 10 in order for the Browns to select him without trading up.
In my mock draft I have Trubisky at 2, Watson at 6, Kizer at 10. This class reminds me of the Locker, Gabbert, Ponder threesome no one really stands out, don’t really have the talent to start day one, IMO didn’t impress enough. Watson is the closest but he did struggle a bit
We know nothing.
Bears go after Watson or trubisky? If browns feel there is a light out qb better grab at #1
Don’t draft a QB or trade for Jimmy G
I wish they would get garrett, then soloman thomas at 12 to out next to shelton. And draft sam darnold next year if he comes out if not wait another year and get him because i can guarntee you that he will be just as good if not better than andrew luck when he came out.
*Put
Darnold not available for 2 years as he is true freshman will be true sophomore not 3 years removed from high school
Sam Darnold was a redshirt freshman so he will be eligible after this upcoming season.
This sounds like mis-information to me. Why would they be saying this right now? They want another team to take Watson so Kizer or Trubisky will fall to them.
I believe the Browns will take whatever QB is available at 12 .If all the rest are gone then they may move up. The Browns are getting better by default cause of the 49’S lol