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Cleveland Browns Analytics department not a part of draft process

By Nick Dudukovich

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 2: A computer monitor displays the day's numbers as traders and financial professionals work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the closing bell, February 2, 2018 in New York City. The Dow dropped 250 points at the open on Friday morning. The Dow plunged over 660 points on Friday, marking its biggest one day plunge since June 2016 following the Brexit vote. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 2: A computer monitor displays the day's numbers as traders and financial professionals work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the closing bell, February 2, 2018 in New York City. The Dow dropped 250 points at the open on Friday morning. The Dow plunged over 660 points on Friday, marking its biggest one day plunge since June 2016 following the Brexit vote. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Browns have removed their analytics department from the draft process after leaning so heavily on the philosophy the past two years.

Unnerved by the Browns 1-31 record under the “analytics” movement? Then Baker Mayfield would be your No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft if you were running the Cleveland Browns.

The MMQB’s Robert Klemko wrote what amounts to be a dissertation on why Mayfield, is the strong choice in May’s draft from an analytical standpoint.

Perhaps if Sashi Brown were still in charge, the Browns would use this story as proof why the Oklahoma product should be drafted first overall.

However, Brown’s long gone, and Joh Dorsey– “real football guy”–is running the show. The Browns’ new GM hasn’t scrapped the analytics, but the analytics is no longer playing a role in the draft process, according to ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi.

The Browns’ analyst made the comments on WKNR-850 AM’s Really Big Show March 23, via The Land on Demand (15:30).

"“All those analytics guys who used to be involved in the draft meetings, have been shut out of those meetings and that includes [Paul] DePodesta. But, the organization still feels the analytics can be useful in other areas.”"

It’d be easy to roll your eyes at the thought of analytics helping draft players, because the philosophy directed the Browns to pass on Carson Wentz, trade down, and select Corey Coleman in the 2016 draft.

But it does seem strange that Paul DePodesta, who still holds the title of Chief Strategy Officer, isn’t even in the draft process.

Analytics won’t be guiding the Dorsey era, but DePodesta went from one of the most influential people in the building to a guy leading the team studying the ramifications of deep sleep (According to WKNR’s Tony Rizzo).

DePodesta’s role in the draft should be minimized, but taking him out of the picture completely?

His opinion should– at the very least–be heard. It’s like the Browns are allergic to finding balance. They’re bouncing from one extreme to the other.

Grossi would disagree with my previous comments, because he think the Browns have found the right balance, taking analytics out of the draft process.

"“But to select your quarterback, based on analytics, which produced Cody Kessler, just to look at an athletes’ SPARQ score… it’s ridiculous. Maybe they’ve gone to the best of both worlds. They’ve got football people making football decisions, let the analytics people do research for other things.”"

Klemko’s piece on Mayfield doesn’t change my opinion of the draft. Sam Darnold would be my choice, because in addition to being the safest quarterback prospect in the draft, he brings along the most upside.

Next: Grading Tony Grossi's mock draft 4.0

“Analytics” will forever be a buzzword associated with the worst two-year stretch in NFL history, but the ideal scenario would have analytics be a part of the process, with the man in charge of picking the players ultimately having the final say.

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