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Mike Holmgren Confirms the Cleveland Browns' Quarterback Intentions, or Does He?
March 22, 2010
Cleveland Browns President Mike Holmgren has finally confirmed information about where the Browns may be targeting to draft a quarterback in the 2010 NFL Draft.
In an interview conducted by Cleveland's The Plain Dealer , Holmgren said even though he really likes Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, he is convinced that the Rams will take him with the No. 1 overall pick and it is also "not realistic" for the Browns to trade up and get Bradford.
Holmgren was also very forward on his feelings of Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen.
"I wish I liked him more," Holmgren said of Clausen.
"You know how you have a type of player that you like? It's not scientific. People like him a lot and he'll go high [in the draft], but it would be hard for me [to take Clausen]."
Finally some closure on Clausen and all who have been drinking the kool-aid, need to stop and pour it out on the ground.
Clausens' cockiness in his character does not fit in Cleveland period, end of story.
To all who have the Browns taking a quarterback in rounds one or two, you might want to change your mock draft now.
Holmgren then touched on why the Browns will not draft a quarterback in the first couple of rounds.
"There are areas of the football team that we really have to help -- the secondary, offensive line -- to get the team better," said Holmgren. "This year it would be pretty hard to use the second [round] pick to get a quarterback."
It is refreshing to see Holmgren knows what areas need immediate attention, especially the secondary where there are two vacant starting positions as safety and cornerback.
He did hint that after the second round there is a better chance of finding a future quarterback, with the multiple picks in the third and fifth rounds.
"We've got [three picks in the third round and four in the fifth round] going for us," said Holmgren. "But I'd have to have another second-round pick [to take a quarterback in the second round]."
Another possible hint about trading back into the second round may also be a clue that this could be a possibility if they need to pull the trigger to grab their man.
Holmgren has always found his quarterbacks either via trade or drafting them after the second round, and he is a believer of taking a chance on drafting a quarterback in the later rounds to see if something can be developed, rather than taking a player who is just a special teams contributor for a year or two then gets cut.
Both Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow are said to be borderline second or third round quarterbacks and Holmgren has been very positive and vocal about his feelings toward Tebow.
Also possible targets beyond the third round include: Jarrett Brown, Dan LeFevour, John Skelton, and Zac Robinson to name just a few.
In closing, NFL front office personnel are notorious for blowing smoke to confuse other teams of their actual plan.
Is this a smokescreen? Or is this the truth?
Browns fans will have to wait until April to find out, but signs are beginning to point to drafting a quarterback in later rounds since the Browns really do have bigger needs in thier secondary that need attention as soon as possible.