In two days, the Cleveland Browns have a decision to make. Do they take the defensive end in Myles Garrett that nearly everyone projects to be an All-Pro? Or do they bow to ownership, media and public pressure to take the quarterback that most say may never be ready for the big time. To some, the decision is very difficult. To others, me included, the decision is simple.
The Browns have two picks in the first round Thursday night, the first overall, and the 12th. They have several options with these picks. Conventional wisdom, which hasn’t proven to be the case in Browns town since the arrival of owner Jimmy Haslem, says they will go with Myles with the top pick, then try and move up to at least six and take the quarterback they have so long coveted, Mitch Trubisky from North Carolina.
Myles is the safe pick. Hard working, driven, relentless. Despite what Warren Sapp says. Yet keep in mind that is the last thing on the owners mind. 4 years ago, the Browns spent over $150,000 for a report on who the best quarterback coming out of college was. Reportedly it came back stating Teddy Bridgewater of Louisville was the best choice. Then Haslem stepped in. With Bridgewater’s name on the card and heading to the podium, the owner usurped everyone he hired and said the pick was Johnny Manziel. That pick has gone down in infamy.
This Browns team needs talent, depth, leaders. The offensive line leaks and isn’t the type that can protect a quarterback that needs as much help as possible when there are no players around him. Yet what Trubisky has is what no other quarterback has in this draft. He comes from Mentor near Cleveland.
What the Browns fans and the media want is a reincarnation of Bernie Kosar. Kosar came from Youngstown, and pulled every string in the book to play for the Browns. That, along with being the last Cleveland quarterback to have any long lasting success, is the reason most feel the way they do about Trubisky.
Trubisky has had only 13 games in his college career, and he started each one. Yet can you place the entire franchise into the hands of a Junior with virtually no experience? On top of that, in those 13 games, Trubisky won 8 times. He’s tempting. He throws the ball well and accurately, yet so do a lot of quarterbacks, including Cody Kessler. Kessler currently is number one on the depth chart. Mainly by attrition and his performance last year before his season was cut short by injuries.
Shore up the talent on this team. Make it better, deeper. Safer for a young quarterback to come in and play. Let Kessler play and see what he can do with an improved team around him. Don’t take a flier on an unproven, questionable product just because he’s big and from Cleveland.
Yes in this day and age a quarterback can make or break a football team. A great quarterback can take a lackluster team and make it great, but only after he has taken his lumps. He has to learn how to play the position, and you cannot do that running for your life. Trubisky might make a good quarterback someday, but this isn’t his time.
Garrett improves your defense immediately. And with the twelfth pick, go after a wide receiver. Maybe Mike Williams out of Clemson. Or a four down player out of Stanford like running back Christian McCaffrey. But predicting what the Browns will do is still near impossible with the owner.
Haslem is the Browns biggest problem. Overconfident, impatient, has no concept of football talent whatsoever. The owner’s talent has been to inherit money and a business, then build upon it by relying on the knowledge of those he hired. Something he has yet to do with the Browns. Now is the time he does.
Dave Mitchell co-hosts with Mark Donahue the UST talk show “Ohio Baseball Weekly,” highlighting the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds. The Show is at 9pm every Monday evening. He also provides play by play of sports. If you have a comment on this or any other article,email Dave at dmitch@ultimatesportstalk.com or on twitter @ohbbcohost or @ultsportstalk.
