Cleveland Browns were set on Baker Mayfield long before draft, says Peter King
Thursday 3 May 2018 17:08, UK
American journalist Peter King says the Cleveland Browns were clear on picking Baker Mayfield long before the 2018 Draft.
The Browns surprised many in the sport when they used their No 1 overall selection on Mayfield, who joined Tyrod Taylor and Drew Stanton as the QBs on the Browns depth chart.
It is unclear whether Mayfield will sit for a year to learn his trade or go straight into the starting line-up, but author and Sports Illustrated writer King says Mayfield was a clear favourite of the Browns well before the three-day event in Arlington, Texas.
He told Sky Sports' Neil Reynolds on Draft Review: "They decided five weeks ago that barring a major upset or someone trading up with a huge offer, they were taking Baker Mayfield.
"They visited Mayfield on March 22, they had already written their reports before that visit and that just reinforced to them the personality that Mayfield has - a very self-assured guy, a swagger to him - and that they wanted to take him.
"Was it the right call? We're not going to know. We're going to have to see how that plays out."
The Browns returned at pick No 4 and again made a slightly surprising move, opting for Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward to strengthen an area of weakness rather than take NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb - who fell to the Denver Broncos with the fifth overall pick.
"Denzel Ward was an interesting pick at No 4 because I thought - everyone thought - they would take Bradley Chubb," added King.
"But they felt they didn't have a shutdown corner and they feel they can put Ward on an island with AJ Green and Antonio Brown.
"If you're playing the Bengals and Steelers for one-quarter of your schedule every year, you have to be concerned with those two receivers.
"This was an answer to that, and they feel they have enough at pass rush that the need for a cornerback was greater.
"I don't know if Ward was a higher-rated player but the need was greater there."
