NFL combine Day 2: Browns, NFL rumors as Abdul Carter’s injury puts everything in limbo

Browns Kevin Stefanski spoke but the NFL draft rumors swirled and got up ended by Abdul Carter news

The NFL combine is a young person’s game and this writer is not that young person. As the years go on, it becomes more clear why many of the veteran media just stop the social time shortly after dinner.

All that is to say that I’m old and getting back to our apartment around 1:30 AM leads to this article posting later than expected. My apologies.

If any fans are heading over to the event, make sure you check out information about the fan experiences while at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Last night was a different experience from over a decade here at this even in Indianapolis. There are, basically, two places to be in the evening. One has two bars/restaurants, a casual seating area and a lobby spread out at the bottom of a large hotel. The other is a fancy steakhouse restaurant with big prices on the menu, not a lot of room to move and you either need to be invited or forceful to join a table of someone of note.

The problem last night was the place that I always meet people, one of the bars in the hotel, decided they were full and weren’t letting people in. Then someone rented out the place and kept it shut down.

So, instead, I got the pleasure to eat at a Brazilian steakhouse that was not overpriced and delicious with some great people then hang out with a lot of the core folks and coworkers that have become my Indy family:

That doesn’t mean information on the Cleveland Browns and other NFL draft nuggets waere not gathered but more bits and pieces that were followed with texts and/or DMs.

The most interesting thing last night happened close to midnight when everyone (between 150-200 people) in the area we were in all got the Abdul Carter injury news at the same time. The bar and lobby got quiet as people were reading the reports and then a flurry of fingers hitting phones and an eruption of conversation regarding it.

As of Thursday morning, Carter’s decision to workout at his Pro Day means one of two things, from what I understand:

1. The Tennessee Titans (assumed to be selecting Carter before the news) are concerned and want to see him perform on the foot
2. The Titans don’t care if he has surgery or not but Carter wants to prove he doesn’t need it.

As for the other rumors I’ve gathered yesterday:

• Many are of the belief that the Titans will be signing Sam Darnold to be their starting quarterback
• Not everyone thinks that fit is good with TEN’s lack of weapons
• The lack of weapons could see them pivot to Travis Hunter but they have noted they see him primarily as a cornerback
• Carter’s injury has many wondering if they could pivot back to Cam Ward and skip signing a big contract veteran
• According to a few teams around the league but not from any Cleveland sources, Shedeur Sanders has not done great with his board work in meetings with those teams
• Sanders is said to have come across great in every other way including breaking down his own stuff but new/difference concepts were reportedly concerning
• Important caveat: As I’ve noted continuously, I’m not trying to be a newsbreaker so when things don’t pass the smell test I will make notes. Sanders’ football IQ is said to be very high and he’s a great character/hard worker. These multiple reports make me wonder if a few teams are trying to get Sanders to fall and are putting it out there
• As for the Browns, “premium positions” has been noted a few times. While running back and tight end are important and deep this year, when I suggested that Cleveland could/should take a rusher at the top of the second round I received some push back.
• “Premium positions” that are valued much higher than others: QB, OT, WR, DE, CB, pass rushing DT
• “Draft is about the future” was mentioned a couple of times which is why smaller trades or Jordan Hicks like free agents could be used to fill “now” needs
• Fun to see more and more media catch up with the fact that not only is Myles Garrett not getting traded but a new contract will be the end results
• Maybe explaining their interest in Ward (which surprised me) Kevin Stefanski talked multiple times about players over system, putting players in the best position to succeed and the like. From what I’m hearing, that is not coach speak and “the Kevin Stefanski system” talk is a little overblown even if they do return to a zone-scheme, play action attack
• Around the NFL, Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski are well thought of. Many connected to the league have noted sympathy for how things have gone with the Browns, which has been an interesting sentiment in a cut-throat league
• At this point, the Kirk Cousins to Cleveland connection is more assumed than anything among many in Indy
• Again, almost throws up alarm bells that everyone is just running with the same thing with almost no push back (except if the Rams trade Matthew Stafford)
• Stafford to the Giants seems to be the favorite location IF LA trades him but no trade is still more likely
• Signing Cousins would not change their plans in the draft, including with Ward (Which I wondered about in yesterday’s piece)

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Workouts start tonight at Lucas Oil, which creates an interesting schedule overall. We will have coverage of the DBs and tight ends who are speaking Thursday morning as well while also catching up on a few interesting things that Stefanski said on Wednesday.