What we learned about the Cleveland Browns in ESPN’s redraft of the NFL
By Chad Porto
![Cleveland Browns Denzel Ward (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) Cleveland Browns Denzel Ward (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/1dff01ea5f64f9245a2d02170cdc8bb290a989a3b0a8b641e7bb51bc413e1d20.jpg)
Jake Trotter would pick Justin Herbert for the Browns
Justin Herbert, aka the potential Blaine Gabbert of the 2020 NFL Draft was Jake Trotter’s pick in the 2nd round. The goal was to build a team that would be able to win a SuperBowl in five years. How anyone can realistically say that Herbert is up for that challenge is beyond me. Taken 6th overall in the real 2020 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers, the young man came into the NFL draft with very little hype around him. Coming from Oregon doesn’t help either, as Akili Smith, Joey Harrington, and Marcus Mariota have all flamed out as first-round picks coming from the college in the last 21 years.
Made worse is the fact that more proven and potentially more viable quarterbacks were still on the board in the vein of Kirk Cousins, Daniel Jones, Jared Goff, Derek Carr, and Phillip Rivers. Now there are still issues with all these names to some degree. That said Cousins, Goff, Carr, and Rivers are the best prospects in reality. Sure, Jones has upside and Herbert could be the next great talent under center but the odds of that happening are unlikely.
So who would have made the better option? Gun to my head, I’d go with Cousins or Goff depending on the style of offense. If the team was going with Kevin Stefanski’s offensive scheme, I’d absolutely take Cousins. He’s played in it, he’s succeeded in it and he knows the terminology. If you changed the schemes up, maybe you go with Goff as he may be a better West Coast Offense guy. Though that’s debatable.