The draftniks have largely assumed that the Browns will pick either Jared Goff or Carson Wentz, whichever one isn’t taken with the Rams’ 1st overall pick. But have Paul DePodesta and the rest of Cleveland’s front office duped the NFL media?
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The NFL draft always brings its surprises. This year has been no different, and the first selection hasn’t even been made yet.
When the Rams moved up to the first overall pick, we all assumed it meant that the first two players off the board would be quarterbacks. Jason La Canfora even called it “a near certainty.”
Will be a lot of happy teams picking 4-8 or so who want D. Trade means QBs virtually certain to go 1-2, Tunsil goes high. Bosa, Buckner fall
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 14, 2016
Not so fast.
In Draft Breakdown’s podcast the night after the Rams-Titans trade was announced, co-host Justin Higdon said he was skeptical that the Browns liked either of the top two passers.
It got me thinking…
What if the new regime in Cleveland has changed its ways?
What if all of the organization’s leaks were intentional?
What if they wanted a team to trade up to the first overall pick?
The draft community isn’t totally convinced the first two picks will be Goff and Wentz, either (or Wentz and Goff depending on whom you ask).
Of the four analysts in NFL.com’s Mock Draft Central, only Charles Davis has the two quarterbacks going back to back.
But why would the Browns want a team to pick a quarterback in front of them?
Jalen Ramsey.
Before the Rams and Titans announced their trade, an increasing number of mock drafts had the Titans forgoing the opportunity to take Laremy Tunsil and grabbing the draft’s best defensive back, Jalen Ramsey.
Maybe Ramsey was the target all along for Cleveland. And if they could get a team in need of a quarterback to jump ahead of them, the Browns would have their man.
The good news for the Ravens is that at least one quarterback will go before they’re on the clock. The chances of Myles Jack, Joey Bosa, or Laremy Tunsil falling to them are very high.
But if either Goff or Wentz falls outside of the top five and falls to the Ravens’ pick at no. 6, teams in need of a quarterback would rush to their phones faster than bargain hunters to big screens at Best Buy on Black Friday.
We all know Ozzie Newsome would use that to his advantage.
And maybe, just maybe, a team gives him an offer he can’t refuse.
I just hope it doesn’t move them outside of the top 10.
