NFL Draft rumors: Browns GM knows what quarterback he prefers
By Josh Sanchez
The Cleveland Browns hold the No. 4 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, and they are fully expected to target one of the top signal-callers with their first pick in thedraft. While it could be a daunting task for new general manager Ray Farmer, he sounds like a man who has already has a player in mind.
Farmer was asked if he knows what quarterback he would prefer to select and he responded with a very candid answer.
“Yes, I do,” Farmer said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I’ve studied the quarterbacks and I’ve studied other players, and I’ve already started to formulate the rank and order of each position. I do know what I’d do if I was held down at the moment. It doesn’t mean that can’t change, but I currently have somebody in front.”
Of course, that leaves the door open for Cleveland using their second first-round pick on a quarterback and going with an impact player with the No. 4 overall selection, which Farmer made clear.
“I’d say that No. 4 is not necessarily where I would take the guy that I like,” Farmer said. “Again, it may not be the name that everybody thinks is the latest, greatest, and the easy one to spot. There’s definitely an art to selecting people in the draft and it’s finding the right name that fits who you want to be.
“I haven’t revealed to many people who that person is that I may like. I think it’s an interesting debate. If I were to say ‘I like player A’ I don’t know if it poisons the pool. I’ll let everybody else have the conversations before I comment. They might say ‘I like player A too’ instead of giving honest feedback.”
If Farmer doesn’t have a high evaluation on any of the quarterbacks in the 2014 draft class, it will be interesting to see whether they would flirt with drafting star wide receiver Sammy Watkins with the fourth-pick to pair with Josh Gordon.
Cleveland could then target the best available signal-caller with their second pick, but that is always a risky move.
If Cleveland believes one of the quarterbacks in the class would be able to help improve their offense from Day 1 and develop in to a franchise signal-caller, they would be wise to go that direction when they are on the clock.