BEREA, Ohio — The Browns will likely draft a quarterback on Day 2 of the NFL Draft after passing on receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick.
The Browns drafted defensive tackle Mason Graham at No. 5 after the blockbuster trade down with Jaguars, and will come back Friday and add some offensive weapons with some of their four Day 2 picks.
They picked up an extra second-rounder on Day 2 in that haul from Jacksonville, No. 36 overall, giving them the first pick in the round at 33 and the fourth pick to help restock their sluggish offense.
With quarterbacks such as Shedeur Sanders, Jalen Milroe and Tyler Shough still on the board, the Browns are fielding calls for the No. 33 pick. Teams that need quarterbacks include the Steelers, Jets and Saints. The Browns must weigh another trade down against grabbing some of the top prospects still on the board.
As for quarterbacks, the only two who went in the first round were Cam Ward at No. 1 to the Titans, and Jaxson Dart to the Giants at 25 after they traded back into the round to get him.
With the Browns linked to Sanders until right after his April 4 NFL showcase at Colorado, some expect them to jump at the chance to draft him at 33 after he tumbled out of the first round. Browns GM Andrew Berry praised Sanders at the showcase, saying he left there wishing he could draft both him and Hunter, his two-way teammate.
As it turns out, he could’ve had both, but just days after that showcase, Berry put in place the parameters of the deal with Jacksonville that came to fruition Thursday night when they were on the clock.
Berry had promised to use the full shot clock in making up his mind for the pick, and he did just that, even though the handshake agreement had taken place two weeks beforehand.
With the Browns deciding that Sanders wasn’t worth their No. 2 pick — and making no effort to try to move back into the first round to draft him — it’s unlikely they’ll grab him at 33 or 36 on Day 2. They might not even draft Milroe or Shough with one of those top two picks depending on prospects they have ranked higher. But they’re likely to scoop one up before the day is out, possibly with their 67 or 94 pick in the third round. Perhaps they’d even package a few picks and move up in Round 3 to grab one.
There are still some intriguing developmental QBs even after Milroe and Shough, who came on strong late in the process. They include Quinn Ewers, Will Howard, Kyle McCord, Riley Leonard and Dillon Gabriel. If the Browns draft one of those players, he’ll likely sit behind Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco, and learn from the pros. McCord, who spent three years at Ohio State before transferring to Syracuse last year, is a productive quarterback with good upside. He threw for 4,779 yards last season, and 34 TDs against only 12 INTs.
Howard, who led the Buckeyes to a national championship last season, is certainly a player Browns fans have been clamoring for, but it remains to be seen if they’d take a flyer on him.
The Browns, however, won’t force a quarterback because they have two first-round picks next year in a much stronger class.
If the Browns stay at 33 and 36, they’re likely to grab some of the top offensive players who can help them right away this season. One highly-ranked prospect they had in for a top 30 visit is LSU tight end Mason Taylor, who would pair nicely with David Njoku. His fellow former Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo, who had an excellent Senior Bowl, is also still available.
As for running backs, the Ohio State premier tandem of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are there for the taking. Either would fit nicely in the Browns’ scheme and complement Jerome Ford, with Henderson having the edge in pass protection. Cam Skattebo and Kaleb Johnson are also good options.
Some excellent receivers also remain on the board in Luther Burden III, Iowa State’s Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins.
On the defensive side, some excellent edge rushers can be had, including Mike Green, who dominated at the Senior Bowl, and Donovan Ezeiruaku. But the Browns seem poised to add some firepower to their sluggish offense on Day 2, including a possible quarterback of the future.
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