The Cleveland Browns will be closely watching quarterbacks at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine, but the evaluation and comparison process will be a little more difficult because Sam Darnold decided not to throw.
According to Marc Sessler of NFL Media, Browns coach Hue Jackson said “we wish he would throw” but added it will have no impact on the team’s assessment of Darnold.
Instead of competing with Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, UCLA’s Josh Rosen and Wyoming’s Josh Allen, among others, Darnold will focus on athletic testing. He’ll throw for NFL teams at USC’s pro day in March, but the combine would’ve provided a useful look at everyone together.
Cleveland holds the Nos. 1 and 4 overall picks in the draft, and the franchise is widely expected to use one of those selections on a quarterback. Darnold remains an option, but the Browns now have one less opportunity to study him.