Man, that Week 1 loss to the Jaguars on the road? Brutal. Seriously, it was baffling that Todd Monken thought Deshaun Watson gave the Browns the best shot to win, not just in Week 1, but any week. We all saw the quarterback play that unfolded on Sunday, and it was rough.
Manning Just Showed What a Franchise QB Looks Like
Look, I am equally enthusiastic about Shedeur Sanders as the starter, no doubt. But then you see Arch Manning out there and everything shifts. Manning conducted a comeback win against Ohio State on Saturday, and it was a statement. The dude has finally clicked in his development, right? His tools and skill set are screaming NFL impact. A lot of Browns fans are also Ohio State fans, so they saw it firsthand. With the Browns building a new stadium, they need a face for the franchise. Manning is that guy. He has to be the play in Round 1.
Defense Needs to Overcompensate, Stat!
But let’s be real, the offense wasn’t the only problem on Sunday. The pass rush? Non-existent. Even Jared Verse got contained. That’s why a guy like Clev Lubin, an edge rusher from Louisville, is absolutely critical. Lubin has a high motor, strong hands, and a violent streak to pursue the ball carrier. The defense needs to overcompensate with pass rushers, and pairing Lubin with Verse could be huge for them. Then you grab Sammy Brown, my top-ranked linebacker from Clemson, in Round 2. He is a cruise missile of a linebacker, perfect for run support and aggressive scheming. The class isn’t super deep with top-end talent, but Brown would be a perfect complement to Carson Schwesinger and give the defense more playmakers in the middle. He has some work to do in coverage, but he has enough skill there to be playable as a rookie while developing further.
A Shot in the Arm for the Secondary and the Trenches
We saw on Sunday that the secondary needs some sort of shot in the arm. That’s where Chris Peal, a big corner from Syracuse, comes in for Round 3. He plays physical coverage and can be reliable on man assignments. He is not targeted often when teams play Syracuse because he is the star of the secondary. Imagine Peal being a piece in that secondary alongside Tyson Campbell and Denzel Ward. The Browns could definitely use that. And you can’t forget the offensive line. Brandon Baker from Texas, who was a very good tackle prospect this summer but is now playing like a decent guard, is a good pick in Round 3. He has good size, can be reliable in both run and pass blocking, and moves well. The Browns need a versatile offensive lineman in case of injury and to push others for a starting role. A camp battle between him and Austin Barber would be good for everyone, with the loser becoming an important backup.
The 2027 NFL Draft will take place in Washington, D.C., and with a class many are calling one of generational wealth, the Browns’ first-round picks are more vital than ever after that Week 1 showing. There will be plenty of speculation and buildup over the next eight months, but these kinds of picks could absolutely fix what we saw on Sunday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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