The No. 1 overall pick is an open and shut case – unless it isn’t. Popular thinking in recent weeks has Myles Garrett going to the Browns, but they’re not ruling out Leonard Fournette with the top selection. The LSU running back is a possibility, per Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, although JLC concedes that it’s still unlikely to happen.
Garrett is widely considered to be the best talent in this year’s class at any position and would be a strong choice for the rebuilding Browns. By the same token, there are other quality defensive ends to be had early in the draft and the Browns have a stockpile of picks to use. Solomon Thomas, Derek Barnett, Charles Harris, Takkarist McKinley, Taco Charlton, and T.J. Watt all hold varying levels of promise and some of those names can be had as late as the second round. The Browns presently own four picks in the top 52 and five picks in the top 65. Passing on Garrett could come back to haunt them – the Texas A&M actually says that he’ll “punish” the Browns in the NFL if he doesn’t hear his name called at the top of the draft – but there are still alternatives to consider later on.
Fournette isn’t the only non-Garrett player to be mentioned in connection with the top pick. Though Mitch Trubisky‘s momentum has cooled significantly, it wasn’t long ago that he was thought to have a chance at going No. 1. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who considers Trubisky to be the BPA (best player available), but Cleveland has an obvious need under center. If the Browns really like Trubisky or Deshaun Watson, they could theoretically play it safe and shock the world by taking a quarterback at No. 1 instead of waiting for pick No. 12 or later.
With a few weeks to go until the draft, what does your gut tell you about the Browns’ intentions with the top pick? Will they select Garrett, a player who they have bestowed with an “astronomical grade”? Or will they go in a different direction and take someone else? Alternatively, if they trade the pick, do you envision the deal being for someone other than the Texas A&M star? Cast your vote below to choose between Garrett and the rest of the field.
Photo courtesy of Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
Trubisky or fournette
If you want to draw your own conclusions about Garrett, pull up the LSU-A&M game and see what he did against a very mediocre offensive line. That should give you a clue how he’ll do against the run-oriented division he’ll be in.
Garrett is going to be a special talent if he stays healthy. He is the best player the draft has to offer outside of Jamal Adams in my opinion.
Geez, stop listening to reporters like La Canfora and Cabot.
Browns will take Garrett at #1.
Did… Did you just imply that jamal adams is the 2nd best player in this draft class?.. Please tell me I read that wrong