The Browns remain expected to take Myles Garrett with their No. 1 overall pick, and the team has already observed the Texas A&M edge defender during a private workout, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports. However, more mystery surrounds Cleveland’s second first-round selection.
Acquired after the Eagles traded up to take Carson Wentz, the Browns’ designs for the No. 12 pick appear to be rather quarterback-centric at this point. Cleveland’s brass conducted private workouts with both DeShone Kizer and Patrick Mahomes. The Browns are also expected to observe Mitchell Trubisky and Deshaun Watson soon but will do so privately. The team has been skipping pro days in lieu of focusing on potential draft targets privately. Hue Jackson did attend Malik Hooker‘s in Columbus, however.
While the Kizer has been rated as the better prospect, with the Notre Dame passer almost unanimously expected to go off the board in Round 1, the Browns are believed to prefer Mahomes. Cabot reports the Browns indeed like the Texas Tech air raid conductor better than Kizer and notes both are under consideration, along with Watson and Trubisky, for Cleveland’s No. 12 overall choice.
In addition to the private workouts, the Browns plan to bring top prospects to their Berea, Ohio, headquarters for official visits. Unless one of the quarterbacks “blows the team away” during the next month, Cabot writes the Browns are expected to take Garrett and focus on aerial help after that pick.
Mahomes’ status may be the most difficult to pin down of the upper-tier quarterback prospects. Given a second-round grade, the ex-Red Raiders signal-caller has been linked to a possible early first-round 1 selection as well. Three teams with aging quarterbacks — the Saints, Chargers and Cardinals — each are interested as well.
The Browns have also been linked to Jimmy Garoppolo with their No. 12 pick and have been attached to Watson and Trubisky during the draft process, the Clemson passer in particular with the No. 12 pick.
I’d rather have Trubisky than Mahomes. Then again, I ain’t the one making the picks.
I think I would go Watson at #12.
That guy has issues throwing uncontested interceptions.
He’s also a proven winner. And basically played his best the past two seasons against arguably the best college defense the past two years (which also happened to be on the biggest stage). Trubisky is too much of an unknown (only a one-year starter and could be a one year wonder or might turn out to be solid) in my opinion. Also I think Mahomes can be good if given the time to develop. Because of that, he might not fit in Cleveland but I think if you allow him to sit a year or two behind a veteran (Cardinals, Saints, Chargers) he can be good.
No guarantee that either Trubisky or Watson will fall to 12, so they need a backup plan.
Agreed however if they fall in love with either Watson or Trubisky, they have the fire power to move up a couple of spots to get them. Amazing what 5 second round picks can do. What I do not want to see happen is the #12 pick go to New England to get Garrappolo. Limited success backups who get the starting job with a new team do not have a good tracker record. Matt Flynn, Brock Osweiler…
JimmyG is not a Flynn or an Osweiler. He’ll be fine, especially leading an arial attack in Cleveland if they get some weapons.
How do you figure, because he played 6 quarters, or is it cause he “learned from brady.” Because Flynn sat behind Rodgers for 4 years, how did that turn out. Osweiler behind manning for 4 years. Also, matt cassel, ryan mallett, brian hoyer sat behind brady, so that means nothing. But i guess 6 quarters is the true test.
…Steve Young, Matt Schaub, Mark Brunell…
Kevin Kolb, Nick Foles…
I’d be happy with Obi what’s his name. He would definitely fill a need.
It’s the Brownies, let’s face it they could draft Johnny Unitas in his prime and he’d be a total bust. They’re cursed!
Ditto
…on Watson
I dont think you take any qb. I think you stay pat for the better prospects next year. draft skill positions and defense.
Taking any of these quarterbacks (other than Trubisky) with the 12th overall pick would be a mistake in my opinion. This is a deep draft, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Tight end is deep as well. By taking Mahomes, or Watson, at 12, the Browns could be passing on a blue chip LB (R. Foster), a blue chip corner (G. Conley), and a blue chip TE (O.J. Howard), and several other quality players.
Cleveland needs to stick with the “best player available” approach. A QB will be available for them at #33 or #52, as this QB class is deep, though not top heavy. This will allow the Browns to target a signal caller in 2018, when as many as 5 elite prospects could declare.
It would be hilarious if the Patriots acquired the 11th overall pick from the Saints for Butler and then the immediate pick after for Jimmy Garoppolo.
Defense win championships, offense just wins games. Falcons 0 points in 2nd half. Browns defense 30th out of 32 teams
Mary Kay Cabot is a joke! She also said the Browns were going to draft Mitch Trubisky with the number one overall pick. I don’t believe a word she says!
If the Browns have Mahomes rated highest they’d be smart to either trade down or draft a best player available pick. Some of these are probably longshots at 12, but if Adams, Lattimore, Hooker, Howard, or Reddick are there you have to go with one of them.
I’d also inquire with Tenn who seems open to moving 5.. Hue liked the idea of adding Hooker. If you could pry 5 and 18 for a package including 12 that is enticing enough for the Titans to accept….
That would be Obi-Wan Kenobi.
I agree, you can’t pass up a chance to have a great defense- Lattimore or hooker you take the state grown secondary players- they know are struggle