Last year at this time, right before the NFL Draft, I introduced you to a football-savvy friend of mine.
I didn’t tell you his name then, nor will I do so now. But trust me, he knows exactly what he’s talking about. I trust his judgment – and his opinions – impeccably.
He’s a native Northeast Ohioan who now lives in a contiguous state but stays well-connected with other football-savvy people in this region. He was a great high school player at a well-known program and went on to play at a Division I college in Ohio. He later coached on the high school level but isn’t coaching now.
In any event, he wants the Browns to draft – get this – Baker Mayfield – with the No. 1 overall pick on Thursday night. My friend doesn’t say things simply to be controversial – rather, just the opposite is true of him – but he says exactly what he thinks. So he really believes Mayfield, despite his short stature and the Oklahoma product being long on questionable behavior, should be the guy.
“He’s got the best arm overall of any of the top four quarterbacks,” he says. “He’s got a strong arm – he can make all the passes – and he’s accurate.”
But what that … uh, over-exuberance at times?
“That’s not a problem at all,” my friend maintained. “He’s just a fierce competitor. That type of thing – tough, gritty, outspoken – would sell well in Cleveland. He’s just like us. The fans back home would love him.”
As for what the Browns should do at No. 4 overall, he says flatly that he wants them to take defensive end Bradley Chubb – even if running back Saquon Barkley is still available, too.
But this is an offensive game. So why not take Barkley?
“The Broncos won that Super Bowl several years ago with two great speed-rushers coming off the edge (Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware) and a quarterback (Peyton Manning) who was over the hill and didn’t give them much,” he explained. “You put Chubb with Myles Garrett and now you’ve got something.”
And now all of you have something to consider in the form of some different opinions.
Oh, yes, one more thing: My friend thinks the Browns need a big-time back, and if they want one, they can get him – if he’s still on the board — with the first overall pick of the second round. His name is Sony Michel.
OK.
