Browns insider addresses recent Shedeur Sanders, Abdul Carter links

While NFL Draft guru Todd McShay of The Ringer recently suggested that the Cleveland Browns will take Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the second pick of this year's draft, both Daniel Jeremiah and Mike Band of NFL.com believe Cleveland will instead grab Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter. 

On Thursday, however, Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand wrote that he is "now of the belief" that "the Browns have a much greater interest in" drafting Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter at No. 2. 

"In that scenario — which still is only one of several options at this point — the Browns would take their quarterback with the No. 33 overall pick. Taking a bona fide, dynamic offensive playmaker at No. 2 overall trumps taking a risky quarterback there," Grossi explained. 

Hunter is seen by many as the best overall player of this year's class and will be a day-one starter for any team that lands him. Meanwhile, some within the NFL community believe New England Patriots backup Joe Milton III, a 2024 sixth-round pick, is a better prospect than any of the signal-callers who will be drafted in April outside of Ward. 

With that said, there's no guarantee the Browns will be able to get their desired quarterback at No. 33. Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart, the draft's QB3 in the eyes of analysts, could be a top-nine or even a top-three pick. Rumblings emerged in mid-March hinting that the Pittsburgh Steelers could target Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe at selection No. 21.

Milroe previously had Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees as his OC in college.  

"Several prominent national analysts are now mocking Carter to the Browns at No. 2," Grossi continued. "Apparently, they think the Browns appeased Myles Garrett to make an about-face and agree to a contract extension by tipping him that Carter would be his new complement at defensive end. In truth, Garrett’s big problem with the Browns’ 'vision' has always been with their offense, particularly quarterback, not the defense. I don’t think Garrett changed his mind because of anything he heard of the Browns' plans. It was all about the $123M in guarantees contained in the $160M extension."

Grossi added that "a combination of Hunter-Milroe is much more realistic than Hunter-Dart" for the Browns. Cleveland, nevertheless, may have to trade back into the first round on April 24 to keep Milroe from going to the Steelers or a different quarterback-needy club.