Former Browns assistant GM Eliot Wolf has his first crack at picking his own quarterback now as head of the Patriots' draft process.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
A dozen takes on NFL draft weekend …
1. Wherever you think the Browns’ overall roster ranks in the tightly contested AFC North prior to the draft, they are sure to lose ground over the weekend by the simple fact the Bengals and Steelers each have two picks, and the Ravens have one, before the Browns make their first selection. Barring trades, Cincinnati owns Nos. 18 and 49, Pittsburgh has Nos. 20 and 51, and Baltimore owns No. 30. The Browns’ first pick is No. 54.
2. The surest bet to make on the 2024 draft is that Browns GM Andrew Berry will trade a pick, or more. I wouldn’t be surprised if Berry swapped his remaining four picks after Rounds 2 and 3 for future picks in 2025, although there might be no takers. Two solid picks in Rounds 2-3 and adding picks in 2025 would be unconventional but a solid weekend for the Browns, in my opinion. Berry is going to need an influx of players on rookie contracts to offset ever-ballooning cap numbers for existing veteran players. Currently, the Browns own their picks in Rounds 1-4 and 6 in 2025. They also have Minnesota’s picks in Rounds 6 and 7, and Detroit’s pick in Round 6. Berry might like to acquire an extra third and a pick in the fifth to make up for lost picks over the past three years.
3. If the Browns draft a running back, a lot of people will be right and I will be dead wrong. I just don’t see the demand for one, or the supply to support a “best player available” pick.
4. New England’s rehab from the Bill Belichick era will be fascinating to watch because of all the former Browns placed in such key positions – de facto GM Eliot Wolf, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney, offensive line coach Scott Peters, and bridge quarterback Jacoby Brissett. The Patriots’ selection of a quarterback will be particularly interesting. As assistant to former Browns GM John Dorsey, Wolf reportedly fell in line in favor of drafting Baker Mayfield over Josh Allen in 2018. The pressure is on from owner Robert Kraft, who is 82, to get the QB pick right.
5. Michigan’s national championship team sent a record 18 players to the NFL combine in February. How many will former Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh nab for his new team, the Los Angeles Chargers? My guess is three for sure – perhaps defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, linebacker Junior Colson and defensive back Mike Sainristil. Come to think of it, he’ll probably add another two in later rounds or as a priority free agent.
6. The fact that Minnesota quarterbacks coach Josh McCown coached Drake Maye in high school spoils the Vikings’ attempts to camouflage their target in trade talks to move up from No. 11. That’s probably why the Patriots are demanding an “unprecedented deal” to give up the No. 3 pick. I think the teams reach a deal on Thursday.
7. The most common comp for LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is Lamar Jackson of the Ravens. So if Washington does the chalk thing and picks Daniels at No. 2, Daniels and Jackson will be next-door NFL neighbors. Their home stadiums are 33 miles from each other in Maryland.
8. My favorite quarterback in the draft is Washington’s Michael Penix. Yes, I am a sucker for size, a good arm and pocket presence at quarterback. Penix sought to defuse concern about his injury history with an open letter on The Players’ Tribune defending his last two healthy years at Washington. Godspeed, Michael. I’ll be rooting for you.
9. When I think of a player matching a coach, I keep coming up with South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler and Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton.
10. If the Browns fail to take advantage of the bountiful receiver crop in this draft they may justify it with a “wait ‘til next year” refrain. Berry agrees that the quality and quantity of receivers pouring into the draft is a trend that will last for a while. “I actually do think that you’ll see more volume and quality at that position,” Berry said last week. “I think it has a direct effect of how the game is played really at the lower levels … proliferation of 7-on-7 football and youth football. Now in high school, kids are throwing the ball 30 times a game. You look at the advancement of spread football in college and then even if you think in our game – I think call it anywhere upwards from 65 percent to 70 percent of the game is played in ‘eleven’ personnel -- one back, one tight end, three receivers. So, I think a lot of the top athletes at the lower levels are going to that position and it makes sense because we’re in a passing league and we’re in a passing sport, so I think that trend will probably hold.”
11. Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell of Toledo surely will be the 14th player from the Mid-American Conference taken in the first round since 1998. Mitchell is generally regarded as CB2 in this draft to Alabama’s Terrion Arnold. The only MAC player taken No. 1 overall was offensive lineman Eric Fisher of Central Michigan, selected by the Chiefs in 2013. Next-highest picks were Western Michigan receiver Corey Davis (fifth by Tennessee in 2017) and Buffalo’s Khalil Mack (fifth by Oakland in 2014). Mitchell is projected to be selected in the middle of the first round.
12. I have no doubt that Bill Belichick will be a smashing success and will offer fascinating insight as analyst on The Pat McAfee Show Draft Spectacular on YouTube and ESPN+. Over the years, I have seen and heard Belichick at his best and at his worst. His best is higher than his worst is low, if you can believe that.