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Cleveland Browns: 5 Thoughts On 2017 NFL Draft

By Peter Smith

Sep 17, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) looks to pass in the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) looks to pass in the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 1, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam (left) talks with executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown and head coach Hue Jackson before the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam (left) talks with executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown and head coach Hue Jackson before the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

The Jimmy Haslem Factor

As tends to happen when it comes to the NFL Draft, the possibility of Jimmy Haslam interfering and making the pick itself comes up because it’s believable and has happened.

In the 2014 NFL Draft, Jimmy Haslam pushed the team to draft a marketing plan disguised as a quarterback in Johnny Manziel. Had he had his way, he would’ve taken him with the eighth pick, but the front office assuaged him with the promise that they would get him, only to make an equally abominable selection in Justin Gilbert.

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So now there is talk that Haslam will interfere with the top pick this year, forcing them to take Mitch Trubisky over Myles Garrett. Make no mistake — if that happens, Hue Jackson will ultimately force his way out of being the head coach. Whether that’s in the form of getting himself fired or just quitting, he and that coaching staff will leave.

Jackson and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams have contractual input in personnel decisions and, if Haslam ultimately stops them and the front office from picking the guy they want in Myles Garrett, the Browns are in the market to replace everyone again.

That doesn’t seem likely to happen. More likely, Haslam’s voice is more one of concern. Yes, he wants a quarterback. So do 90 percent of rational people out there following the team, be it as a fan or professional. It seems like Haslam is an owner that understands why they want and will take Garrett, but is also nervous that can get him and get the quarterback they want, whoever that is.

It’s obviously more salacious to say that Haslam is going to take over and make the pick and the fact that he’s done it before makes it so that possibility can’t be dismissed. However, if he really brought in Jackson, his staff and this front office to run the team, he can’t seriously have them do all of this work for a year to make this selection and then just take it away from them. If that happens, he has not learned anything, cannot be helped and the team is simply doomed.

Haslam being a visible presence that just hopes that his guys can get Garrett and their quarterback seems like the most realistic scenario, but the doom factor is still present.

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