2017 NFL Draft: Browns Trending Toward Defense With Two 1st-Round Picks

The 2017 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and the Cleveland Browns are trending toward taking defense with their two first-round picks.

The Browns excel at one thing around draft time. No, not picking players. Rather, Cleveland is king at keeping everybody guessing.

Instead of using every opportunity to evaluate the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft, Browns coach Hue Jackson and vice president Sashi Brown have eschewed visits with this class’ top crop of quarterbacks, instead opting to evaluate these players in private workouts.

Hue Jackson did attend a pro day, at Ohio State, but that’s school’s biggest prospects are on the defensive side of the ball.

Are the Browns tipping their hands, or does the old adage, actions speak louder than words ring true?

Could Browns Town be overlooking Cody Kessler as their quarterback of the future, for the short term, anyway? It’s been reported Kessler is going to compete for the starting job with a drafted rookie, but when will that new signal be drafted? I’m not so sure it will be at No. 12.

Despite going 0-8 as a starter and lacking the ability to throw the ball downfield, on top of suffering two concussions, analytics websites seem a lot more optimistic of Kessler’s performance than those who actually watched the games.

Of course, the Browns are all in on analytics, with Paul DePodesta of “Moneyball” fame plotting Cleveland’s future.

ESPN Cleveland analyst Tony Grossi recently spoke about Kessler’s role with the Browns. Grossi wondered if Kesser was being overlooked after months of debating Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson and DeShone Kizer, or whether to trade for Jimmy Garoppolo, via ESPN Cleveland Radio (8:30).

"Cody Kessler is emerging as a key player. I think this…They’re analytics department was partially responsible for Kessler being drafted. They were. Now Hue liked him..he really did, but they were supported by this analytics stuff. So Kessler has this season as a rookie where he’s prematurely put him and he didn’t produce a win. We know that. But now the analytics department goes over every statistical formula they have, and in their minds, everything they saw in him was justified in these numbers. They break it down to his stats under pressure, his completion this, and that. And yo’u’ll find analysis sties who are sating he had a better year than Carosn Wentz. What I’m getting to, they ‘re probably of the option that they were right about Cody Kessler, and all he needs is better protection and more reputation, and i think that’s what they’ve resolved to do, in addition tod rafting a quarterback. Don’t dismiss Cody Kessler having a larger role in 2017."

Right now, the Browns dream scenario may be drafting defense with their first two picks. It’s trending that way. Myles Garret is a lock to go No. 1, but Cleveland needs to fix its safety spot, in addition to finding help at corner.

The selection of safety Malik Hooker would be a win, but it’s unlikely he’ll be around that late. The Browns recognize their need at safety, evidenced by their free-agent pitches to Tony Jefferson and Brandley Mcdougal. Both players chose to sign elsewhere. Hooker’s been able to workout because of a shoulder injury this offseason. Perhaps that will enable him to slide to the Browns at No. 12.

Not if, when. https://t.co/15J36ymhqC
— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) March 23, 2017

If Joe Haden has another subpar season, you’ve got to wonder if the Browns front office is going to try and rid themselves of his contract after 2017.

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That means they need his replacement in the long term, and someone to play opposite of him in the short term.

Corner wise, Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore will likely be gone by the time the Browns pick at No. 12, but Gareon Conley may be on the board.

Something not talked about a ton is the Browns moving up late in the first round to grab a quarterback, if they don’t acquire Garoppolo. They own the first pick in the second round (No. 33 overall). Plus, the organization has the assets to do it.

Even if the Browns makes this type of move, it’s probably a safe bet Kessler will start, unless the rookie absolutely blows everyone away in mini camp, and then training camp.

Next: 10 Buckeyes Can Get Drafted, Here's Where They'll Be Picked

A rookie quarterback is still possible, but with Kessler emerging as the Week 1 starter, it seems less and less likely a signal caller will be drafted with the team’s two first-round picks.

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