CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scribbles in my Cleveland Browns notebook as the 2017 NFL Draft is a little more than a week away:
1. Patrick Mahomes. He is the newest quarterback name associated with the Browns. They worked him out in Berea. They have spent time with him. They are intrigued by his strong arm. Coach Hue Jackson said he wants a quarterback
Anthony Hitchens Youth Jersey who can throw downfield. The Texas Tech product can do that. He loves to do that.
2. Mahomes played in the "Air Raid" system, heaving nearly 50 passes a game. He didn't have to worry about much but throwing the ball, running around. It's much like the system Johnny Manziel played in at Texas A&M. I have a hard time embracing Mahomes, who truly seems like a project. Most draft experts have him going in the first round. I have major doubts about him adapting to the NFL.
3. A few months ago, I heard the Browns were intrigued by Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer. That was before the NFL Combine. After that, very little Kizer/Browns talk. Kizer and Mahomes do have a few things in common. They both have strong arms. They both are athletic. In the last two years, Kizer ran for 18 touchdowns. Mahomes rushed for 22 touchdowns. Jackson likes a quarterback with some mobility, both of these guys have it.
4. Mahomes or Kizer with the Browns? Who knows? There are big questions about both of them. But it's clear the Browns are intrigued by the possibilities of adding a big play type of quarterback.
5. For months, I've heard North Carolina's Mitchel
Jerome Bettis Youth Jersey l Trubisky as the Browns top quarterback choice. I've not heard anything different. But that doesn't mean the Browns will draft him, unless they plan to shock a lot of people (including me) and pick the Mentor product at No. 1. That said, ESPN's Adam Schefter and Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot both believe Trubisky is under serious consideration at No. 1.
6. I do know the NFL and TV networks want as much suspense about the No. 1 pick as possible, so don't expect the Browns to announce their selection when V.P. Sashi Brown meets with the media Wednesday at noon.
7. The big-name quarterback I don't hear linked to the Browns is Deshaun Watson. My guess is the lack of interest has to do with his lack of arm strength. At the NFL Combine, Watson was clocked at 49 mph on his throws. That's very low. Here's how some big names were clocked: Mahomes (60 mph), Davis Webb (59 mph), Kizer (56 mph) and Trubisky (55 mph).
8. For what it's worth, Cody Kessler was clocked at 55 mph at the 2016 Combine. He doesn't seem to have a very strong arm. Paxton Lynch led the way with 59 mph. Other readings from 2016: Jared Goff (58 mph), Carson Wentz (57 mph), Dak Prescott (54 mph), Kevin Hogan (53 mph) and Connor Cook (50 mph). It's rare to find any legitimate p
http://www.coltsshopauthentic.com/shop-by-players-12-andrew-luck-jersey-c-1_4.html rospect at 49 mph, Watson's reading.
9. I've heard a few whispers of Nathan Peterman connected to the Browns, but I'm not buying it. The Pitt quarterback is much like Cody Kessler. He's a savvy quarterback, but doesn't have impressive arm strength.
10. Another name hooked to the Browns as a later round pick is Joshua Dobbs. Is it because he played at Tennessee? Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is connected to the school. Is it because he does have 35 starts (analytics loves that) and he is extremely smart? He is an astronautics/Aerodynamics major. He played in the Senior Bowl where Jackson and his staff served as coaches.
11. Dobbs did not play in an NFL-type offense. He said the NFL playbook won't be much of a challenge compared to the heavy academic load he carried in college. His velocity was 55 mph. Arm strength not a big issue, but he was pretty inconsistent at Tennessee.
12. You can go crazy with all the rumors. I've been
http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-danny-woodhead-jersey-c-1_14.html trying to figure out what the Browns could do if they don't find a way to secure Trubisky. My guess is they want a strong-arm quarterback, which eliminates Watson and points toward Mahomes and Kizer.
