In an inbox piece, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com informs that the Browns have not shut down the idea of taking Baker Mayfield with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. But few reports have linked the team with drafting the reigning Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma.
Cabot notes that Pro Football Focus has ranked Mayfield as its top quarterback in the 2018 draft class and that her sources indicate the Jets are likely to take him at No. 3 if the Browns elect to pass on him at No. 1. She also reminds fans that Browns draft consultant Scot McCloughan entered the draft process extremely high on Mayfield.
While it appears the Browns haven’t closed the book on Mayfield, the likes of USC’s Sam Darnold and Wyoming’s Josh Allen could lead the team to go elsewhere with the first overall pick.
Here’s more from around the AFC/NFC North:
- Kyle Meinke of MLive wonders if Matt Cassel might beat out Jake Rudock for the team’s backup quarterback job. The ties between Cassell, 35, and the Lions are fairly obvious, with new coach Matt Patricia. He was an assistant coach with the Patriots in 2008 when Cassel had arguably his best season as a pro, in place of the injured Tom Brady. The Lions took Rudock in the sixth round of the 2016 draft out of Michigan and he’s appeared in three games through two seasons, compared to 106 career appearances and 81 starts in Cassel’s career.
- The Bengals didn’t have much trouble getting ahold of Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson to bring him in for a visit, per Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer, which had been a knock on the former Heisman Trophy winner. Owczarski also reports that the visit was merely due diligence in the hopes that Jackson may fall to them at No. 21.
- Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal points to USC running back Ronald Jones as a potential fit for the Browns in the second round. It’s unlikely the Browns would get a crack at taking Penn State running back Saquon Barkley unless they select him with the No. 1 overall pick. Jones is viewed as a “clone” of veteran running back Jamaal Charles, who new general manager John Dorsey worked with during his four seasons as the general manager of the Chiefs. The Browns have three picks in the second round (Nos. 33, 35 and 64).
You know, looking at the QB panic in this draft, If the Browns take Barkley at 1, then Chubb at 4, they get the 2 projected/potential Hall of Famers in the draft. Then with the CERTAIN QB picks being made, Denver is still picking when there will be 1 of the big 4 QB’s left and they need an RB.
With Barkley off the board, the Browns could offer Denver Carlos Hyde plus their 2nd rd & next years 1st rd pick (which would be a killing for Denver) and STILL draft either Rosen or Allen, whoever would be left.
THATS a HUGE win-win for both teams…and no one can stop it if Denver agrees.
(The Browns could STEAL this draft.)
Hyde, a 2 this year and a one next year isn’t enough for the number 5 this year. They’d have to offer more for Denver to drop from number 5 to the second round.
Worst post ever.
In all reality they could trade 1 with say buffalo or New England and get 2-3 1st rounders plus a 2nd or two and then draft Chubb at 4. Could use those 2 mid/late 1st this year on CB, OT, and the 2nds on RB and DL..
Then you’re in a position where you have a great team around the QB position to draft a QB next year bc you have the draft capital to go get anybody you want.
Why not just trade both 1 and 4 and get nothing but 2nd round picks for the next 15 years? See how dumb that sounds? Just like this post…..
Either way we know the browns only draft busts, so it doesnt much matter how they spend the picks.