Browns buzz on Saquon Barkley, Baker Mayfield, Nick Foles, and more as they leave the NFL combine
CLEVELAND, Ohio — As the Browns head home from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, reports and rumors are rampant about their plans for the No. 1 and No. 4 overall picks, and what they might do in free agency next week.
With a dozen picks in the draft, they’re mentioned in almost every trade talk, and they’ll field dozens of calls over the next few months, especially after general manager John Dorsey announced on Thursday that he’s open for business with the No. 1 pick.
There’s also much speculation about who they might land when teams can begin negotiating for free agents on Monday and what they’ll do with their first two picks in the draft. Will they definitely go QB at No. 1? Can they afford not to? Is Penn State running back Saquon Barkley too good to pass up?
The latest report, from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, has Barkley “firmly in the Browns’ plans at No. 1,” while NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports there’s a “very strong buzz” that the Browns like Baker Mayfield a lot and could pair him with Barkley.
Here’s a look at some of the buzz going around after the NFL Scouting Combine:
1. On Barkley
Barkley stole the show at the combine and solidified his status in the minds of many as the best player in this draft. He was so off the charts that the Browns have no choice but to give him strong consideration at No. 1, along with the quarterbacks.
Barkley finished second among running backs with a 4.4 in the 40, first in the bench press with 29 — more than Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas when he was drafted — and No. 1 in the vertical jump at 41.0.
With Dorsey declaring at the Senior Bowl in January that he’ll take the “best available player” at No. 1, he just might have back that up by taking Barkley — unless one of the quarterbacks establishes himself as can’t-miss franchise quarterback. The problem is, all of the top quarterbacks in this draft have holes, and Barkley has none.
USC’s Sam Darnold turns the ball over, UCLA’s Josh Rosen has injury and mobility issues, Wyoming’s Josh Allen has accuracy concerns, and Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield has size and maturity flaws.
If the Browns fall in love with one of those quarterbacks by the end of the predraft process, they should take him at No. 1. But if they’re waffling and can’t reach a consensus, or if they like Lamar Jackson as well as some of the others, they might be able to wait until No. 4 for their quarterback and take Barkley at No. 1.
If they didn’t have the No. 4, they’d be locked into a QB at No. 1. But the No. 4 pick gives them the flexibility to land arguably the best player in the draft in Barkley as well as a quarterback they really like at No. 4.
In that scenario, however, they must have three quarterbacks ranked fairly equally because anything can happen at No. 2 and No. 3, and they can’t afford to blow it on the QB. Quarterback is the most important position on the team, and if there’s one they believe can lead this team for the next decade, they should take him at No. 1 and not take any chances.
But a QB at No. 1 is not a slam dunk with a game-changer like Barkley on the board, and with the No. 4 pick in their possession.
2. On Mayfield
The Oklahoma product had a stellar combine, and kept himself in the conversation for the Browns, but maybe not at No. 1. They’d probably be more likely to take him at No. 4 if they have three or four QBs ranked equally and they opt for Barkley at No. 1.
Mayfield described himself as “the most accurate quarterback in this draft by far” and was on target at the combine, as well as at Oklahoma.
We already know that Browns draft consultant Scot McCloughan loves Mayfield and that Browns GM John Dorsey likes him. Mayfield doesn’t seem to fit coach Hue Jackson’s profile of a big, pocket-oriented QB, but there’s definitely some sentiment in the building for him. Several evaluators at the NFL combine also told cleveland.com that Mayfield came off well in his 15-minute interviews and alleviated some character concerns.
But he can’t change his size (6-foot 5/8, 215) and that’s something the Browns will have to grapple with.
There are only two successful quarterbacks in the NFL at his size in Drew Brees and Russell Wilson, but they both have a big advantage over Mayfield: hand size. Brees and Wilson both have 10.25-inch hands, which helps them play bigger than they are. Mayfield’s hands measured 9 1/4 at the combine, which is not ideal for the rugged AFC North.
3. The QB evaluations are ongoing and will include private workouts
The Browns can’t rank the college QBs yet, in part because Sam Darnold opted not to throw at the NFL Combine. The USC product must answer for them why he turned the ball over so much in college to the tune of 22 interceptions and 21 fumbles — including 14 lost — in 27 starts.
He admitted at the combine that he “let myself and his teammates down” and told cleveland.com on Saturday that the Browns grilled him pretty well during his 15-minute interview about the turnover issue, and also why he opted not to throw at the combine.
The Browns must determine during his Pro Day and private workout if he’s solved the problem, and how fast he processes information when he’s on the white board.
That could separate the men from the boys in these evaluations. As for Wyoming’s Josh Allen, who had a stellar combine, they must dig deeper into his 56.2 completion percentage and determine his upside.
For most of the QBs, sitting for a year or more behind a veteran would be ideal.
4. The veteran QB
The Browns have probably already had some conversations about trading for a veteran quarterback, and on Monday, they’ll start negotiating with the agents of free agents if they haven’t made a trade.
Quarterbacks on the radar will include AJ McCarron, Case Keenum, Nick Foles, Tyrod Taylor, Josh McCown and others. McCarron is an obvious frontrunner because we already know that Jackson likes him, and believes he can win with him. But if Sam Bradford re-signs with the Vikings and Keenum becomes available, he’ll be in the mix.
As for Foles, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported Monday that it would take more than first- and fourth-round picks to pry the Super Bowl MVP away from the Eagles, even though he only has a year left on his contract. That’s more than what they got from the Vikings from Bradford before the start of the 2016 season. With Carson Wentz coming off a torn ACL and LCL, the Eagles apparently don’t want to take any chances.
Would the Browns be willing to give up that much? It remains to be seen, but they will aggressively try to land a QB who can win for them right away.
Eagles have fielded – not solicited – more than one inquiry and offer for Nick Foles. Eagles’ basic answer is it’s going to take more than the 1st and 4th round picks they got from Vikings for Sam Bradford. Foles is Super Bowl MVP and best insurance policy in NFL.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) March 5, 2018
5. Sam Shields to visit, according to reports
Former Packers Pro Bowl cornerback Sam Shields wants to resume his career, and will visit the Browns later this week, according to reports.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported that Shields will come to town.
Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel also reported that Shields, 30, will visit the Rams tomorrow.
Shields, a 2014 Pro Bowler, has mostly been out football for the past two seasons because of concussions, but wants to give it another go.
Asked by Cohen last month why a team should sign him, he said, “because I can still run. I’ve still got that in me. I think somebody will want that.”
Shields suffered the fifth concussion of his career in the 2016 opener against Jacksonville, and hasn’t played since. The Packers released him in February of 2017 and he sat out last season “to get my mind right,” he told Cohen.
The Browns are looking at any player they think can help them, regardless of age or injury history.
Shields was signed as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Miami when John Dorsey and Eliot Wolf were both in the Packers personnel department, so they know him well.
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