#HeyTony: Should the Browns draft Shedeur Sanders no matter what Deion wants?

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

Hey Tony: If the Browns decide they really like Shedeur Sanders at #2 but are told by Deion not to draft him what do you think they will or should do?

-- Matt, Washington, DC

Hey Matt: The Browns should draft Sanders only under two conditions. 1. They believe he is the best QB in the draft, and 2. They have an understanding with Deion that he will not interfere in any way, now or in the future, with the development of Shedeur in the Browns’ organization. They should be cognizant of the fact that if the Haslams decide to make a coaching change if 2025 goes sideways, Deion will want to be the next coach of the Browns. For those reasons, the Browns have to be absolutely sure Shedeur is their next franchise QB. Otherwise, there will be trouble ahead.

Hey Tony: Heard a lot of the negatives about Shedeur Sanders. What are the positives in his game that could make him successful? Do you believe this regime can get the best out of him or another QB they might draft?

-- Ethan, Richmond, VA

Hey Ethan: Sanders has proven to be physically and mentally tough. That’s important at the quarterback position. He also was very accurate at Colorado and showed a willingness to canvass the field from the pocket.

Hey Tony: If the Browns zero in on taking a QB at 33, how important is the fifth year option (especially with 4’s cap hit)? Should there be a push to move up at least a couple of spots into the first round?

-- Matt, Columbus, OH

Hey Matt: When it comes to drafting a QB, I think the fifth-year option is over-rated. If you are correct in identifying the QB that will take your team to the next level, you likely will extend his contract when he is eligible after his third season. The only time the fifth-year option becomes important with a QB, IMO, is if you have a veteran quarterback leading your team for multiple years and you are just waiting for his era to play out, e.g. Jordan Love with Green Bay.

Hey Tony: How much pressure is on Browns brass to get this draft correct with the obvious history of failed #1s with different front offices and so many misses on current Pro Bowlers? And do we trust them?

-- Matt, Long Island, NY

Hey Matt: Andrew Berry is beginning his sixth year as Browns GM. They have won one playoff game in five seasons and they are coming off a 3-14 season. He has drafted 37 players in five years. Only one player drafted by Berry has been voted to the Pro Bowl (Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in 2023). He also was the GM on record who executed the worst trade in professional sports history, whether or not it was his call alone. Does that record engender confidence and trust?

Hey Tony: Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart 1st two picks?

-- Mike, Erie, PA

Hey Mike: I am not an advocate of drafting Carter. I don’t think a 250-pound edge rusher in the Jim Schwartz defense is worthy of the No. 1 overall pick. I would take Dart at No. 33, but I don’t believe he will be on the board.

Hey Tony: If you had to pick from one of these Buckeyes with the 33rd pick who would it be -- Treyveon Henderson, Jack Sawyer, Emeka Egbuka, Josh Simmons or Will Howard?

-- Chris, Auburn, OH

Hey Chris: Egbuka and Simmons will be gone by No. 33. I would seriously consider Henderson at No. 33, but I think it’s early for him.

Hey Tony: With 9 picks in a weaker draft class will AB make some trades to get more picks for the better class next year?

-- Bruce,  Mentor, OH

Hey Bruce: The Browns ultimately could have 11 or 12 picks after compensatory picks are awarded later this month. But, yes, Berry will try to stock up in the 2026 draft.

Hey Tony: If Kirk Cousins can come for the minimum AND Cam Ward goes #1, what is the Browns move?

-- Fred, Parma, OH

Hey Fred: The options are many. Take Sanders at No. 2? Trade down, collect extra picks, and take Jaxson Dart or Jalen Milroe later in the first round? Take the best players at No. 2 and No. 33 and take a QB high in the third round and reboot the QB search in 2026?

Hey Tony: Any news on the Mike Hall injury. Playing golf in Florida. Thanks.

-- Jim, Kettering, OH

Hey Jim: Expect an update on Hall, Nick Chubb, Deshaun Watson, etc., at the NFL Combine press availability with Andrew Berry.

Hey Tony: Can you explain this aspect of the City of Cleveland/Haslam lawsuit: if the Modell law is only designed to prevent teams from breaking their lease, how can the Browns possibly run afoul of it if they aren’t planning to move until after their lease expires? 

-- AJ, Avon, OH

Hey AJ: To me, the city of Cleveland appears mortified at the prospect of developing the lakefront with a giant hole in the ground left by the Browns vacating the current stadium site. Instead of working with the Haslam Sports Group to arrive at a “collaborative” plan to develop the lakefront without the Browns, the city has decided to pour taxpayer money into fighting to keep the Browns in a location that is undesirable to the team owner. All of it is counter-productive to a long-term solution that is most beneficial to all of Northeast Ohio – not just to downtown restaurant owners.

Hey Tony: Are the Browns still looking into how Deshaun Watson re-injured his Achilles and do you foresee any compensation coming out of this.  

-- Chad, Erie, PA

Hey Chad: We will only know this answer when the Haslams make themselves available to reporters at NFL owners meetings in late March. I will be there to ask.

Hey Tony: How do the GM and “consultant” of the worst trade in NFL history still have jobs?

-- Paul, Avon, OH

Hey Paul: The only possible conclusion is that they were merely following orders from their boss, the owner.

Hey Tony: Why is there such silence on QB Will Howard?

-- Sam, Columbus, OH

Hey Sam: That will change at the NFL Combine later this month.

Hey Tony: Has Paul DePodesta made even one substantially impactful and positive contribution to the Browns?

-- Richard, Seven Hills, OH

Hey Richard: DePodesta’s greatest contribution was marrying head coach Kevin Stefanski with GM Andrew Berry. It fulfilled Jimmy Haslam’s directive to have peace and harmony between GM and head coach. To his credit, DePodesta also recommended Sean McDermott as a coaching candidate instead of Hue Jackson. On the other hand, he advocated quarterback Mitch Trubisky over Myles Garrett with the No. 1 pick in 2017.

Hey Tony: If the Browns decide to go best player available at 2, Abdul Carter/Travis Hunter etc., would Jaxson Dart be available at 33 or would they need to move back into round 1 to get him?

-- Jason, Canton, OH

Hey Jason: It’s doubtful that Dart would be available at No. 33. Further, Carter or Hunter should not be the pick at No. 2, IMO.