The long and short of it is that size doesn’t always matter, even in football.

 

The Browns proved that with what they did at the top of the NFL Draft on Thursday night.

 

As most people expected, the Browns took a quarterback at No. 1 overall. But instead of him being Wyoming’s Josh Allen – all 6-foot-4 and 237 pounds of him – it turned out to be Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, who stands just over 6 foot and weighs 215 pounds – soaking wet.

 

And unlike almost anyone expected, the Browns, at No. 4 overall, selected cornerback Denzel Ward. The Ohio State and Macedonia Nordonia High School product is 5-11 and 191 pound. Everybody thought the choice would be 6-4, 269-pound North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb.

 

You might say that never has so little meant so much to the Browns.

 

Mayfield immediately becomes the latest in a string of quarterbacks the Browns have drafted in hopes that they would turn out to be the face of the franchise. He may not be big, but he’s feisty, just like most of us are in Northeast Ohio. Plus he’s confident, talented and a winner. He’s the most accurate passer in the draft and someone who has won and won and won.

 

A quarterback has to win. It’s his most important job. And he has to be able to hit the target. The receivers can’t catch the ball if it isn’t thrown near them. In addition, he’s the best quarterback in this draft – by far – when it comes to making split-second decisions, especially in the red zone. That’s the third-most important thing that a quarterback must do.

 

As for Ward, while it’s true the Browns need another edge pass rusher, which is why most thought Chubb would be the pick, they also need cover guys in the secondary. And Ward is the best of the bunch in that regard.

 

I’d say new General Manager Joh Dorsey did OK, at least at first blush.

 

With the first day in the books, you have to wonder what the Browns will do Friday night when rounds two and three of the draft are held. They have the first and third picks of the second round. So if you miss the start of this second day, you’ll miss a lot.