NFL draft grades on Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders or Jalen Milroe should make the Browns decision
With the Cleveland Browns owning the 2nd overall pick in the NFL Draft, people are discussing what they should do when pick #2 arrives on draft night. Some are in the camp of drafting a quarterback (the team needs one) with Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders or Miami QB Cam Ward. Others believe the team should take the BPA approach (“best player available approach”) whether it’s a cornerback in Travis Hunter or an edge rusher in Abdul Carter.
The logic that is being used for why the Browns need to draft a quarterback is flawed logic. “We need to draft a quarterback!, the Browns can’t afford to miss on someone who could be special” and “most good quarterbacks are first-round picks.”
Yes, the team needs a quarterback however they don’t need to draft a quarterback if they aren’t in love with the quarterback.
When the Washington Commanders upset the Detroit Lions this past weekend in the divisional round, the reason they did it was because of their rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels turned out to be a lot better than people expected, and his gravity elevated the team to outperforming their expectations. Aside from Daniels, this past QB class is a lot better than this upcoming QB class:
- Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams
- Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix
- Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr
- New England Patriots Drake Maye
Nix and Penix might have been over-drafted but both seem to be the guys to lead their respective teams while Williams and Maye were the consensus QB1 and QB2 leading up to the draft.
If you look at this current class, it’s a lot of question marks.
Sanders, whether his father doesn’t want him in Cleveland or not, would be an ideal fit and it would be a better situation for him to be in as considering how the Browns are more stable than people suggest. Ward, on the other hand, his style wouldn’t mesh with what Cleveland wants to run. He’s also closer to a project than people suggest. Some people are high on Ward, that’s fine but not for this team.
The Browns shouldn’t draft a quarterback for the sake of drafting one. If the team isn’t in love with either Sanders or Ward, then they shouldn’t draft either. It’s that simple.
Forcing a quarterback selection at the top of the draft is just as detrimental as the current situation.
The Browns history is full of wasted QB picks and great players they passed on since the team came back.
It’s just not black and white despite people wanting it to be.
— Colb (@___Colb___) January 19, 2025
“But we can’t afford to pass up on a potential franchise quarterback!”
It’s a bad team-building strategy and it’s one of the many reasons why bad teams stay bad. Picking a quarterback that you aren’t sold on is like going to the movies without knowing what movie you want to see, instead you are just going because everyone else is. Or, going to the grocery store without knowing what you want to eat, but you are going because you are hungry.
The lesson from the playoffs should be to get as many special players on your team as possible.
Not to delude yourself into believing that pretty good will become special.
— Pete Smith (@_PeteSmith_) January 19, 2025
Browns draft discourse about to be extra annoying because of what Jayden Daniels is doing.
Everyone is about to be screaming for a QB at 2 without acknowledging all QB classes are NOT the same.
Zach Wilson went 2nd overall too.
Trey Lance went 3rd!
— Colb (@___Colb___) January 19, 2025
If a game-changing player is available at #2 that is a quarterback, take that player.
If a game-changing player is available at #2 that isn’t a quarterback, take that player.
Why are the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship right now? It’s because they prioritize drafting the best players. Philadelphia was able to build their roster while finding their quarterback in Jalen Hurts. The difference? Hurts was available in the 2nd round. Eagles took him and things are going well for them (I think?). What happened with the Texans and C.J. Stroud his rookie season and what we are seeing with the Commanders and Daniels and his rookie season are outliers. It’s rare and people shouldn’t have these expectations right off the bat.
Only draft a quarterback if you are confident in said quarterback. Don’t draft a quarterback for the sake of drafting one.