Browns Draft Rumors: Peace, Love, QBs and Owner Jimmy Haslam

Browns draft rumors are popping up by the hour. Here’s the latest about owner Jimmy Haslam’s desire to acquire a quarterback.

What discord in Berea? It’s all peace and love at Cleveland’s headquarters, while Browns draft rumors dominate social media.

Browns coaches, and front office executives are getting along just fine, according to Denver-based radio personality Benjamin Allbright.

And while it may be all rainbows and sunshine in Berea in the week leading up to the draft, they front office apparently does have one major objective, and it comes from owner Jimmy Haslam: Get the quarterback.

Allbright’s tweet conflicts with what CBS sportswriter Jason La Canfora tweeted Friday afternoon.

However, the one thing both media members agree on is that Haslam wants a quarterback.

So what should you make of all these Browns draft rumors?

Haslam’s influence could explain why rumors are circulating that the Browns may be trying to move up from the 12th pick to secure the quarterback of their choice in the top 5.

This way, the Browns are safe by getting the best overall player–Myles Garrett–, and the front office and most importantly, the owner, are happy with the selection of a quarterback. Based off talk coming through the pipeline this past week, that player would be Mitch Trubisky.

Trading up from 12 just goes against everything we’ve been told about valuing picks and the way this analytically driven front office prefers to work. It’s going to cost a second and probably a third-round pick to move up from 12 into the top 5. It doesn’t make sense from the analytics standpoint, but you can throw all of that out the window when the owner sends direct orders.

According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, the 49ers are believed to be interested in Trubisky with the second pick. A smokescreen? Possibly. But their interest puts pressure on the Browns. You can bet the 49ers will be demanding a massive trade package at No. 2, while threatening to take Trubisky second overall.

In the analytics corner, some, including Football Outsiders’ Aaron Schatz, remain confused over the reports that the Browns are considering Trubisky with the No. 1 pick.

https://twitter.com/FO_ASchatz/status/855497512899182592

But Cabot explains the type of mentality that be forming in the minds of Sashi Brown and Paul DePodesta.

"But the Browns front office, led by Brown and Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta, are taking some of their cues from former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson, who turned his team around with Troy Aikman, the No. 1 pick in 1989. The Cowboys went 1-15 that year, but jumped to 7-9 in 1990 and 11-5 and a playoff berth in 1991. Over the next four seasons, they won three Super Bowls, and Aikman established himself as a Hall of Fame quarterback."

Garrett is the safer pick, and no one will blame the Browns if he turns out to be a bust. Trubisky, meanwhile, could be the franchise’s answer to the 25-year question mark at quarterback.

If Friday’s rumors taught us anything, remember that there is one man in this world who can actually take whomever he wants, and that’s the boss, Jimmy Haslam.

Next: New Factory of Sadness Final Mock Draft

Stay tuned, Browns town.