With the NFL Scouting Combine in the books, speculation surrounding the upcoming draft is reaching a fever pitch.
The Cleveland Browns, a team typically flying under the radar, are now at the center of attention due to their second-overall pick and glaring needs at multiple positions – most notably quarterback.
Though the Browns have not publicly committed to selecting a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick, there are strong suggestions that they might opt for the best player available, regardless of position.
Names like Penn State’s Abdul Carter, a dynamic defensive end, and Colorado’s Travis Hunter, who the Browns view more as a wide receiver than a cornerback, are reportedly in the conversation.
While Cleveland keeps its options open ahead of the draft, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter has a strong conviction regarding the team’s approach. He’s confident that the Browns will choose a quarterback with their top pick no matter what.
“The one thing that I feel completely comfortable and confident in predicting is that the Cleveland Browns will go quarterback at No. 2,” Schefter said on his podcast.
“It makes all the sense in the world that they’re going to [take a quarterback with their first pick]. The Cleveland Browns, quarterback at No. 2. Put it down for me. You need financial relief, and you need a quarterback, and the only way to do it is at No. 2.
“So if the Titans decide they’re not going to go quarterback and they’re going to go with a generational player like Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter, that leaves the Cleveland Browns with the option of whichever quarterback they deem to be the best quarterback in this upcoming draft.”
Indeed, the Browns are facing a tough financial situation, with the team over the salary cap by more than $23 million.
This predicament is largely due to the enormous contract given to quarterback Deshaun Watson, whom the Browns traded for in 2022 and signed to a fully guaranteed $230 million deal.
Watson’s tenure in Cleveland has been an absolute disaster – and even that might be putting it lightly.
After all, you can make the very strong argument that both the trade for Watson and the extension they ended up giving him will go down as the worst in NFL (and perhaps all of sports) history.
With the Watson contract tying up significant resources, the Browns’ best move may be to draft a quarterback on a cost-effective rookie deal to help alleviate the financial burden.
The pressing question is whether the team will prioritize Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, two quarterbacks who have stood out in this year’s draft class.
There are also other quarterbacks – notably Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart – who have sky-rocketed up draft boards. (Cleveland could potentially trade down to grab him if they’d like.)
As the draft approaches, the speculation surrounding Cleveland’s strategy continues to build.
Will the Browns prioritize a quarterback to get back on track, or will they lean toward adding another top-tier player to bolster their roster?
Love him or hate him, Schefter is 100% confident that the Browns will go quarterback no matter what.
What are your thoughts on Schefter’s prediction? … What do YOU think Cleveland will do at No. 2???
