Every NFL off-season, usually after the initial punch of free agency finally settles and draft time really becomes the focal point of ESPN and NFL franchises alike, teams “let slip” (more likely release) little snippets about their “real” draft boards to the media.

In my past dealings, I’ve learned to put more credence in how a player fits into a scheme than what a team personnel person said about his spot in the GM’s eyes. 

The draft smokes screening has become commonplace in most NFL organizations, but someone forgot to tell new Browns President Mike Holmgren that. We’ll break down all of his most recent quotes about his plans to take a quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft.


“I like Sam Bradford a lot”

Okay, maybe an understatement, as Holmgren deffinitly isn’t alone in his stance on a quarterback who reportedly had the best pro day workout since Troy Aikman 21 years ago.

But still, even after adding two quarterbacks this off-season, this quote still makes me wonder if Holmgren has a wish list that headlines Bradford at the top of it. 

While again, it’s no surprise to anyone’s draft board that Bradford is at or close to the top, it still caught me off guard that he didn’t say Bradford was talented, but that he actually liked him as a prospets.


He would “considering trading up”

This is another thing you’ll rarely here NFL teams talk about, especially when the name a player just before that they “like a lot”.

Just about every team in the Top Ten tells the media that they’re “exploring” trading up and down and all options, but Holmgren came off as saying that he’d be willing to trade up a lot if, let’s say, a certain aforementioned quarterback was still on the board past pick one.


“I wish I liked him more”

This was the first quote I heard from Holmgren which I actually felt could be an accurate refelction of the Browns actual draft board. 

This quote was directed to Holmgren concerning Jimmy Clausen. After already saying that he liked Bradford, the generally considered number two quarterback, Clausen, was next on his to-do list to mention.

If this quote is an accurate reflection of his board, then it really looks as though that even though Clausen could be there at pick 7, the Browns may be unlikely suitors to take him.


He’s unlikely to select a quarterback in top two rounds

Now is where the smoke screening may start to make sense. After coming out and saying that he liked Bradford a lot, he’s now talking about how he probably not only will take a quarterback in with his number seven overall pick, but not in the top two rounds.

Regardless of the free agent and trade acquisitions they added, the Browns are in need of a “Quarterback of the Future” in their organization, and the general rule is you can get that guy in the 1st two rounds.

So does this mean he has a mid round guy who he likes a real lot? Would he rather wait until 2011 for his franchise signal caller? Or is he just playing mind games with other teams and the media to take the spotlight off of the Browns quarterback situation?

“I wish I had another 2nd rounder to take a quarterback with”

After the previous quote, this makes a little more sense. He said that it’s “unlikely that he’ll draft a quarterback in the Top 64 because he has other needs.

However, the fact that he has come out and said that he wants to take a quarterback in that area means that he’s definitely exploring trade possibilities in that mid to late 2nd round area to maybe take a quarterback. And who could that lucky passer be?

Browns working out Colt McCoy

While the have already planned to workout the top two guys, Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen before the draft, McCoy was the 1st player likely to be selected outside of round one to be brought in to Browns camp for a private workout.

McCoy isn’t as high on my board as others, but some have him viewed as a 2nd-3rd round prospect, right in the range where Holmgren is talking about when he brings up where he could be looking for a quarterback. 

McCoy would be a good fit and behind two veterans, he’ll have time to adjust to a dropback system and bulk up before he’s asked to be a full-time starter.


What does this all mean?

Maybe nothing. He could have no interest in bringing in a quarterback this year. He has Delhomme and Wallace for another three years, giving him ample time to take a quarterback in future years.

But maybe something. Holmgren has told Eric Mangini that being open with the media can’t really hurt all that much, and by releasing who he likes in the draft, he can stir up some excitement for Browns fans while also not revealing his entire master plan for April 22nd, 23rd, and 24th.

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