The Opening Drive 12/16: Draft The Quarterback When The Right Quarterback Is Available
We have to stop pretending the toughest position to land in sports is ready when you are.
There is a growing sentiment around the Browns that is driving me crazy. What is essentially being sold is the idea that the Browns are more than a quarterback away, and that this means they should pass on the position in the upcoming draft. Instead, they should stock up on positions that currently lack talent, like offensive line or wide receiver. Then, once the team is “ready,” they go out and select that quarterback in one of the upcoming drafts.
Listen, I watch the film every week. I know how bad this offense is better than most. I know one quarterback doesn’t solve all of its issues—well, Josh Allen might significantly help, but that’s beyond our discussion today. There are many elements contributing to the disaster we saw in Chicago, including an offense that posted an 8% success rate through three quarters. We all see the issues.
However, the collective team struggle does not mean you decide to ignore the league’s most important position. The right quarterback has a chance to change everything at any given moment. All you have to do is look at the results of the 2024 NFL Draft and the quarterbacks who have settled into the league. We don’t have to go through the results, but look at how they are contributing to winning outcomes just two years into their careers.
This is not to say the Browns don’t need to invest in other positions. They do need offensive tackle help, and they do need more help at receiver, but that does not—and will not ever—excuse passing on the right quarterback. This is not a mandate of sorts. This is not demanding that the Browns select one in April. But it is saying that if the team deems one of the top signal-callers available to be worthy, you cannot bypass that player because the rest of the roster “isn’t ready.” You always take the quarterback, given the opportunity, and solve the rest as you go.
The Browns may not be in position to select the one they love at the end of the year, or they may feel the top names are not worth it this cycle, and that would be fine. The problem, from my perspective, will always be the belief that the team must pass on a quarterback due to the talent around him. That could not be further from the truth.
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You might be tired of hearing about it folks, but Myles Garrett still deserves every ounce of our attention. Aaron Schatz of FTN put out a tweet to summarize what I have been saying all year: look at how productive Garrett has been despite missing out on the volume others at his position receiver to chase stats. Basically what he is doing, based on his opportunity given, is unparalleled. This is a superhuman thing happening.
He is set to win the DPOY award for the second time in his career — basically locking him into the Hall of Fame. The sack record for a single season would do the same. We throw around the word “generational” too often but that is what is happening for his career. I know the Browns drive us nuts for the most part but please remember to take a second in the coming games, and especially as Garrett inches toward the award, and appreciate what he is doing despite his surroundings. The entire league may never see a talent like Myles Garrett ever again.
Browns Film Breakdown will return soon with some fresh All-22 content.
100% agree. Also, the QB a team has, can/should play a part in the scheme they run, which can mean a particular tackle, guard or to a lesser extent receiver is a better fit.