Cleveland Browns rumors: A 1st round that yields Lamar Jackson
In Cleveland Browns rumors, a rumor indicates the team would be happy to come away with Lamar Jackson at the end of the first round.
Watch enough TV, read enough Twitter and talk to enough friends and you’ll find opinions on Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson all across the spectrum.
Some love him, some hate him, some think he can develop into a great NFL starter, while others think he should’ve converted to receiver.
Jackson didn’t take the later advice, and will available to teams as a quarterback when the draft commences from AT&T Stadium in Dallas Thursday.
Most mocks don’t have Jackson being picked in the upper part of the draft, but plenty have pegged him to go somewhere in the first round, which leads into this intriguing rumor from 92.3 The Fan’s Daryl Ruiter.
Coaching staff apparently not all that high on Sam Darnold. Josh Rosen is not being considered at 1. One scenario I heard #Browns would not mind coming away with: Bradley Chubb, Saquon Barkley & Lamar Jackson. A lot of smoke & noise right now. Thankfully #NFLDraft is Thursday
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) April 23, 2018
In this scenario, the Browns would draft Bradley Chub first and take Saquon Barkley fourth, following the selection of quarterbacks at Nos. 2 and 3.
Rumors indicate that the Browns may trade back up into the first round, using at least one of their early second-round picks. Cleveland currently has the first and fourth selections in the second round, so if GM John Dorsey wanted to move, he certainly could do so.
Is the Jackson gossip true?
Even the highest profile mock drafters are guessing, but that’s even more true during draft week. General managers across the league are playing their cards close to the vest.
Tony Grossi summed it up best when it comes to what’s being said about the Browns.
Just today alone, I heard the Browns QB pick is definitely down to two QBs: 1. Darnold & Allen, or 2. Allen & Mayfield, or 3. Darnold & Mayfield. #stupidseason.
— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) April 23, 2018
If the Browns took Jackson, Dorsey would be shock the world.
Jackson had great collegiate numbers, but there are questions as to how his game will translate into the NFL game.
For the Browns to go 0-16 and then to gamble on the most important need they need to fill–well, Dorsey would be putting his career on the line.
Interestingly, The MMQB’s Peter King mocked Jackson to the Cincinnati Bengals with the No. 21 pick. Feels like the first time a player who isn’t an offensive lineman has been mocked to the Bengals.
King argues the Brown family doesn’t mind shaking things up at quarterback, and if Marvin Lewis caters his offense to Jackson, incumbent starter Andy Dalton could be out of a job in 2019.
For the record, King had the Browns taking Sam Darnold and then Bradley Chubb.
The idea of the Browns passing on quarterbacks at one and four seems inconceivable. But, for this entire season, which extends back to last September for Browns fans, there’s been no consensus No. 1 pick.
Darnold is viewed as the safest QB prospect, but no one is said to be a “slam dunk.”
Next: Browns: 6 dark horses to target late in the draft
Listen to everything and hear nothing. Well get the truth on Thursday.