It’s closer to NFL draft day and as far as the Cleveland Browns go, there seems to be a consensus. But really, there isn’t.
What there could be going on is some recency bias as the trend for many draft analysts is to link either of the Colorado Buffaloes top two – wide receiver/cornerback and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter or quarterback Shedeur Sanders to the Browns.
A nationally televised workout will do that for some players. Here are some of the most prominent mock drafts released recently:
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman calls it for Browns to take Abdul Carter
The Athletic's Bruce Feldman may be a man wandering in the draft wilderness with his pick of Abdul Carter. Good for him for bucking the latest trend.
“If Cam Ward is available, I believe Cleveland will pounce. Instead, the Browns gobble up the latest in a long line of defensive freaks from the Nittany Lions capable of making an immediate impact,” he wrote in his annual mock. “The pairing of Carter and Myles Garrett will cause huge headaches for opponents. At 6-3 and 250 pounds, the 2024 Big Ten defensive player of the year has average size for an edge player but is blazing fast.”
Other AFC North picks
Baltimore Ravens (No. 27 overall): Malaki Starks, safety, Georgia.
Cincinnati Bengals (No. 17 overall): Mike Green, defensive end, Marshall
Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 21 overall): Jaxson Dart, quarterback, Ole Miss.
Not to be outdone, The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner released a new mock draft
Nick Baumgardner joined his colleague in releasing a new mock draft Monday. In it he has the Browns taking Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. Could there be a little recency bias here given that Hunter and teammate Shedeur Sanders just had a workout that was attended by all 32 teams, according to reports, including the Browns’ owner Jimmy Haslam, general manager Andrew Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski?
“The best football player in this draft class and one of the most unique talents we’ve seen in years, Hunter will make an impact wherever he goes — and wherever he lines up — immediately next year,” he writes. “If he sticks at CB he’ll ...
