For the last three months, every expert has had the same No. 1 overall pick in their mock drafts. Every single expert. The Cleveland Browns are going to take Texas A&M pass rusher Myles Garrett first, and figure out their quarterback situation later in the draft.
Hours before it’s go-time, ESPN’s top two draft experts have changed their minds. Both Todd McShay and Mel Kiper have the Browns picking UNC quarterback Mitchell Trubisky first, meaning Garrett falls to the 49ers at No. 2.
Here’s what Kiper said, via our friends at Niners Nation.
“How’s this for a curveball to begin the night? The thinking is the Browns get antsy about Trubisky being available at No. 12 and don’t find any takers to trade up. Could Cleveland ownership get involved and insist on a QB here? Remember, the Browns passed on Carson Wentz last year and really need a franchise-changer at the position. Myles Garrett s my No. 1-ranked prospect.”
Let me be clear about this: If Garrett falls to the 49ers, it will be the greatest day in this franchises history since advancing to the NFC title game in 2014. Garrett is the relentless pass rusher this defense is missing at the LEO position. He has DeMarcus Ware potential and could walk into Week 1 being double-teamed right away. Start ordering your Garrett jerseys because the guy is going to be a monster every Sunday for a long, long time.
I really didn’t think the Browns could be this foolish. Garrett is one of the highest-rated prospects of all-time, and really the only consensus bust-proof player in this draft. Maybe this is entirely a smokescreen from clever executive Sashi Brown and his analytics team. Many including myself are questioning whether Trubisky is a slam dunk franchise quarterback, because if he’s taken No. 1 overall, the expectation will be for him to eventually save the Browns. This has classic Cleveland front office mistake written all over it.
The very reason the Browns have been stockpiling draft picks is to go and get both Garrett and Trubisky in the same draft. Get two blue chip players instead of a bunch of role guys in the second round. It seems pretty obvious, but then again it’s the Browns.
Is there a chance John Lynch would field phone calls to trade out of No. 2 — considering the kings ransom he would get? Absolutely. But at the end of the day, if the best overall player in the draft falls to you with the second pick, you take him. The 49ers need Pro Bowl players to start this rebuild and every indication is that Garrett is going to be that guy.