Perhaps the portrayal of this has been all wrong – or at least it’s been incomplete.

 

The start of the 2017 NFL Draft has been made to seem as if it’s an either-or situation. That is, the Browns use the No. 1 overall pick to take either a quarterback – Mitch Trubisky of Mentor High School and the University of North Carolina, DeShaun Watson of national champion Clemson, DeShone Kizer of Notre Dame or Patrick Mahomes of Texas Tech – or Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett.

 

Period. End of statement.

 

The Browns will make their choice and then we’ll all move on to the No. 2 overall selection.

 

Just like that, all neat and tidy.

 

But maybe it’s not that clear-cut.

 

Oh, sure, those quarterbacks are still being mentioned as distinct possibilities for that No. 1 pick. That will remain the case, of course, until the Browns finally locate their man.

 

It’s the other half – perhaps the most prominent half – of that decision that may not be so predictable.

 

Could it be that Garrett is not, or at least should not be, the non-quarterback the Browns are targeting?

 

That’s the opinion of at least one analyst, Booger McFarland.

 

McFarland, who works for the SEC Network and ESPN after having been a two-time Super Bowl champion while playing defensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts from 1999-2007, believes the Browns would be much better served by taking defensive lineman Jonathan Allen of national runner-up Alabama.

 

McFarland said recently on ESPN’s “Mike & Mike” program that if a team is drafting Garrett, it will be because of his potential. Translated, McFarland thinks Garrett takes plays and games off. His motor doesn’t run at a high speed consistently.

 

McFarland believes Allen is a better player and certainly a more dependable one in terms of bringing his best all the time.

 

Then, with their second pick at No. 12 overall, McFarland would like to see the Browns take LSU safety Jamal Adams, who has “Ed Reed-like potential.”

 

The Browns need great players, especially at those two position areas, and McFarland thinks both of those guys are destined for greatness.

 

It’s certainly something to think about.