- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 407,139
- Reaction score
- 43
The end of one phase for the Browns' pre-draft process happened Friday afternoon inside the University of Colorado's indoor practice facility. The start of what could be the most important part began as soon as the team's traveling party could sit down to compare notes.
The "Colorado Showcase" — the pro day for Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, and three other wide receivers, including Will Shephard and Jimmy Horn Jr. — drew a crowd from across the NFL. The most notable were those from the Browns, including owner Jimmy Haslam, general manager Andrew Berry, head coach Kevin Stefanski, quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave and Executive Vice President JW Johnson.
The Browns had told everyone they were going to be there in force earlier in the week at the NFL owners meetings. They also dined the night before with Hunter and Sanders, which is where Haslam believes much can be gained in terms of getting to know the individual.
That's pretty much been the group who've jetted across the country the last two weeks to get eyes on at least four other prospects for this year's draft. That includes two other potential candidates for the No. 2 overall pick — Miami quarterback Cam Ward, who's probably going No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, and Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter — as well as three potential quarterbacks who could be taken later in Alabama's Jalen Milroe, Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart and Louisville's Tyler Shough.
The final decision may still be weeks away. Maybe right up until the final seconds are ticking down with the Browns on the clock for the pick on April 24.
But it might not have anything to do with the player to take. Berry himself acknowledged that in a conversation with a small group of Browns writers last Sunday at the NFL owners meetings in Florida.
"I do believe in using the shot clock and using the time that's available to you," Berry said at the owners meetings. "I think by that time we'll have a pretty good sense in terms of how we view the individuals as both players and people. I wouldn't maybe undersell the amount of time that we start thinking through draft strategy because you can walk a number of different paths with that pick, whether you pick a quarterback, a non quarterback, trade up, trade down, looking at all those different scenarios and then seeing how the draft could possibly sequence from there and then ultimately how good you feel about those outcomes both in the short term and how it sets the franchise up in the longer term."
So now comes the biggest question of them all. Who's it going to be ultimately at No. 2?
Sanders' father and head coach, Deion, said in response to a question about meeting Haslams at a news conference Friday, "I think one of those guys is gonna be there.” By one of those guys, he was referring to the two everyone was there to see: his son Shedeur and his two-way phenom Hunter.
The younger Sanders was solid during his pro day, which would be expected of any quarterback in their pro day. According to The Athletic's Jeff Howe, he completed 62-of-67 passes, with three drops, over the full showcase, which ended with a two-minute drill on air.
Afterwards, Sanders reinterated what he had said at the NFL combine in March that he believes he's the one to turn around any woebegone franchise. That could be the Browns at No. 2, the New York Giants at No. 3 or someone else.
"All I need is an opportunity," Sanders said on ESPN after the workout. "Simple. Whatever franchise wanna change they franchise, then it's no doubt who to go with. ... You'll be a fool not to pick me."
If you piece together what Haslam, Berry and Stefanski said earlier in the week while in Palm Beach, Fla., for the owners meeting, however, that answer isn't as obvious as one would think. It's not as simple as "Take the QB" even for a team whose only healthy quarterback right now is the recently-acquired Kenny Pickett.
All three made it clear that there wouldn't be a push to take a quarterback just for the sake of taking a quarterback. They also made it clear how impressed they were at what Hunter brings to the table with his two-way versatility.
"I would say we're still working through it," Berry said at the owners meetings about the No. 2 pick. "There's a bunch of players that we like at the top of the draft and we continue to do our work on them, and I would say including quarterbacks. So, that's part of what next week and the next couple weeks are about, figuring all that out. The good thing is we still have time. We have a month. It's a big decision, so there's no sense in rushing it. We're going to use all the time that we have to make the best decision for the organization."
That time, however, is running out fast. That's why the Colorado Showcase was the end of one phase, and the start of another for the Browns.
Chris Easterling can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns can turn focus to NFL draft decision after Colorado pro day
Continue reading...
The "Colorado Showcase" — the pro day for Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, and three other wide receivers, including Will Shephard and Jimmy Horn Jr. — drew a crowd from across the NFL. The most notable were those from the Browns, including owner Jimmy Haslam, general manager Andrew Berry, head coach Kevin Stefanski, quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave and Executive Vice President JW Johnson.
The Browns had told everyone they were going to be there in force earlier in the week at the NFL owners meetings. They also dined the night before with Hunter and Sanders, which is where Haslam believes much can be gained in terms of getting to know the individual.
That's pretty much been the group who've jetted across the country the last two weeks to get eyes on at least four other prospects for this year's draft. That includes two other potential candidates for the No. 2 overall pick — Miami quarterback Cam Ward, who's probably going No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, and Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter — as well as three potential quarterbacks who could be taken later in Alabama's Jalen Milroe, Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart and Louisville's Tyler Shough.
The final decision may still be weeks away. Maybe right up until the final seconds are ticking down with the Browns on the clock for the pick on April 24.
You must be registered for see images
But it might not have anything to do with the player to take. Berry himself acknowledged that in a conversation with a small group of Browns writers last Sunday at the NFL owners meetings in Florida.
"I do believe in using the shot clock and using the time that's available to you," Berry said at the owners meetings. "I think by that time we'll have a pretty good sense in terms of how we view the individuals as both players and people. I wouldn't maybe undersell the amount of time that we start thinking through draft strategy because you can walk a number of different paths with that pick, whether you pick a quarterback, a non quarterback, trade up, trade down, looking at all those different scenarios and then seeing how the draft could possibly sequence from there and then ultimately how good you feel about those outcomes both in the short term and how it sets the franchise up in the longer term."
You must be registered for see images
So now comes the biggest question of them all. Who's it going to be ultimately at No. 2?
Sanders' father and head coach, Deion, said in response to a question about meeting Haslams at a news conference Friday, "I think one of those guys is gonna be there.” By one of those guys, he was referring to the two everyone was there to see: his son Shedeur and his two-way phenom Hunter.
You must be registered for see images
The younger Sanders was solid during his pro day, which would be expected of any quarterback in their pro day. According to The Athletic's Jeff Howe, he completed 62-of-67 passes, with three drops, over the full showcase, which ended with a two-minute drill on air.
Afterwards, Sanders reinterated what he had said at the NFL combine in March that he believes he's the one to turn around any woebegone franchise. That could be the Browns at No. 2, the New York Giants at No. 3 or someone else.
You must be registered for see images
"All I need is an opportunity," Sanders said on ESPN after the workout. "Simple. Whatever franchise wanna change they franchise, then it's no doubt who to go with. ... You'll be a fool not to pick me."
If you piece together what Haslam, Berry and Stefanski said earlier in the week while in Palm Beach, Fla., for the owners meeting, however, that answer isn't as obvious as one would think. It's not as simple as "Take the QB" even for a team whose only healthy quarterback right now is the recently-acquired Kenny Pickett.
All three made it clear that there wouldn't be a push to take a quarterback just for the sake of taking a quarterback. They also made it clear how impressed they were at what Hunter brings to the table with his two-way versatility.
You must be registered for see images
"I would say we're still working through it," Berry said at the owners meetings about the No. 2 pick. "There's a bunch of players that we like at the top of the draft and we continue to do our work on them, and I would say including quarterbacks. So, that's part of what next week and the next couple weeks are about, figuring all that out. The good thing is we still have time. We have a month. It's a big decision, so there's no sense in rushing it. We're going to use all the time that we have to make the best decision for the organization."
That time, however, is running out fast. That's why the Colorado Showcase was the end of one phase, and the start of another for the Browns.
Chris Easterling can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns can turn focus to NFL draft decision after Colorado pro day
Continue reading...
