(SP) – Reports say the Browns continue to lead toward former North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Mitchell Trubisky with the No. 1 overall pick because the front office feel he is the right fit for the organization.
“Beyond what he can do on the field, I just like the mental makeup of the kid,” said Browns general manager Sashi Brown. “We’ve had a lot of discussions with him and we all feel he has the right personality to deal with being an historic bust and seeing his entire career flame out by his mid-20s. Most people his age can’t handle that.”
Trubisky had a breakthrough junior year with the Tar Heels in 2016, his first season as a starter, and has seen his draft stock explode since declaring for the NFL in January. The 22-year old said he knew when he declared for the draft that his fate could lead to Cleveland.
“I knew that was a risk,” said Trubisky. “My status as a quarterback prospect many teams aren’t sure is an NFL starter, let alone an NFL star, made it almost a certainty that the Browns would talk themselves into drafting me with the first pick. And I’m okay with that. There are worse things in the world than being paid No. 1 overall money for 3rd Round talent. In fact, it’s part of the reason I came out this year. I couldn’t risk the Browns not having the first pick next year.”
With Cleveland all but settled on Trubisky, Brown said the team is now beginning to look ahead to future drafts.
“We’re spending a lot of time looking at the 2019 draft class,” he said, “because that will likely be when we feel the need to draft another quarterback in the 1st Round.”
