CLEVELAND, Ohio — Talking to myself about the Browns as the draft looms:
QUESTION: Who are the Browns going to draft?
ANSWER: Travis Hunter.
Q: Just like that? No doubt?
A: No doubt.
Q: What if you’re wrong and they pick someone else or trade down?
A: That could happen, but a better question is this: What if the Browns pass on Hunter and it turns out they are wrong?
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Q: Are you sure you aren’t being fooled by GM Andrew Berry gushing about Hunter at his recent press conference?
A: It’s rare for Berry to do that, and that’s part of the reason I believe it’s genuine. The comparison of Hunter to Shohei Ohtani (a great hitter/pitcher) and calling Hunter a “unicorn” fits into one of the themes of this draft for the Browns.
Q: Which is?
A: Here’s what Jimmy Haslam said at the recent owners meetings: “It would be great if we could get ‘the quarterback,’ but we’re not going to force it. We’re going to be patient and we’re going to try to accumulate as many really good football players as we can.”
Q: But that’s the owner …
A: Berry also said: “Obviously, quarterback’s the most important position. I think the biggest thing that we’re thinking about going into this draft is really just adding good players and good prospects … not overthinking that way. You can’t necessarily dictate the draft. Although certainly you have more influence when you’re picking as high as we are this year, but we’re really just looking to add good players.”
If the Browns wants the best player in the draft, it's Travis Hunter. AP
Q: Don’t they always say, “We took the best player available” during the draft?
A: Often, but they don’t always mean it. Teams often draft for specific needs.
Q: Don’t the Browns need a quarterback?
A: They were 3-14. A significant part of it was the Deshaun Watson mess, but the roster is weak. The “Big Swing” in the Watson deal cost them six draft picks, including three first-rounders. It led to signing some older players to “win now,” and that caused salary cap problems.
Q: So you don’t like the roster?
A: The Athletic rated the 32 NFL rosters. The Browns were rated 27th. Only New England, New Orleans, Las Vegas, the Jets and Titans were worse.
Q: Wow!
A: Here’s what they wrote about the Browns: “The good news? The defense should be good. The problem is that you have to score points to win football games, and the Browns have very little talent on offense. Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett or a rookie will be suiting up at quarterback while the running back and wide receiver rooms boast little talent. Oh, it gets worse: The Browns’ offensive tackles rate among the bottom 10. This roster has a long way to go.”
Q: Do you believe that?
A: Most of it. They need about everything on offense. It’s why Hunter is so attractive. He fits the “get more good football players” mandate. Most experts rate him the best receiver and cornerback in the draft.
Q: What is his best position?
A: His most immediate impactful position is wide receiver. Remember, offense is the Browns’ biggest weakness. He caught 96 passes and had only three drops. They can use him at times in the defensive secondary. But as Berry said, “He has a number of rare qualities, but the rarest is his ability with the ball – his ball skills. We would want to put him in a position that maximizes his ability.”
Will the Browns take a big swing on Jalen Milroe in the NFL Draft?AP
Q: What about Berry praising Jalen Milroe?
A: Here’s what he said about the Alabama QB: “He’s got rare physical talent. He may be the only quarterback when he gets in the NFL, who’s faster than Lamar [Jackson]. Don’t tell Lamar I said that, please. He’s got rare physical gifts. He’s strong. He’s fast. He’s got a really strong arm. Any system that you build around him (would be) to take advantage of the fact that he has things that no other players at the position have.”
Q: Hmmm …
A: That’s what I said.
Q: Meaning what?
A: Berry can give football hosannas to Hunter because Hunter should be there to draft. Unless Tennessee shocks everyone and skips Cam Ward for Hunter.
Q: What if that happens?
A: Another hmmm … do the Browns take Ward, or do they trade down? They probably can add a lot of picks for Ward. I haven’t thought about that scenario. I wonder if they are sold on Ward at No. 2. I have some doubts about that.
Q: Is Milroe another Lamar Jackson?
A: I looked at their college stats. I forgot how dominating Jackson was at Louisville. In his last season, he led the ACC in passing yardage (3,660) and rushing yardage (1,601). He completed 59% of his passes, 27 TDs compared to 10 interceptions. Yet only former Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome projected him as a first round pick. Other NFL people thought he should become a wide receiver.
Q: Just like some NFL people have said Milroe would be a great running back?
A: Sort of like that. Milroe had 12 rushing TDs of at least 10 yards. That’s even more than Jackson, who had 11 in 2016 and 2017. It’s the most by any college QB in the last 25 years, according to Dane Brugler of The Athletic. A Mount Union product, Brugler is one of my favorite draft analysts. Milroe has a very strong arm, but is not a natural passer. In his last two years at Alabama, he threw 39 TD passes compared to 27 interceptions. He rates Milroe as the No. 5 QB in the draft, behind Ward, Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough.
Could the Browns grab Jaxson Dart at the top of the second round? AP
Q: What QB does Brugler project for the Browns?
A: In his most recent mock draft, Brugler has Ward and Sanders picked in the first round. That gives Cleveland lots of choices … and he puts Dart with the Browns.
Q: What did Berry say about Dart?
A: I asked Berry about Dart and Milroe, and the GM said this about the Mississippi QB: “He’s very well rounded. He can run it. He can throw it. He’s accurate. He’s a good decision maker. I’d say he’s pretty scheme-versatile, so to speak. I think, both those guys (Milroe and Dart) in the proper situation can be really good NFL players.”
Q: Do you like Dart?
A: In the top of the second round … absolutely. Brugler had some interesting stats on Dart. The 6-foot-2, 221-pound QB led Division I QBs in completions of at least 10 yards. He threw more often from the play-action than any Division I QB, which fits with Kevin Stefanski’s offense. He tends to leave the pocket early and holds the ball too long. He is a deceptive and tough runner.
Q: What is your dream draft for the Browns?
A: It’s Hunter and Dart with the first two picks. That said, Dart played in Lane Kiffin’s no-huddle quick-snap offense. Not a lot of pre-snap reads, and that usually doesn’t translate well to the NFL. Berry did call Dart “pretty scheme-versatile,” which means Dart should be able to adjust to an NFL offense.
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