Hue Jackson’s Cleveland Browns will be coaching in the Senior Bowl this year and could have a potential No. 1 overall pick as their quarterback. Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson has been invited to the Senior Bowl, per executive director Phil Savage, and would be coached up by Jackson and his staff if he accepts the invitation.
“The Cleveland Browns, who own the No. 1 and No. 12 selections in April’s NFL Draft, will be coaching the South Team at the 2017 Senior Bowl — and the South is the team Watson is expected to play for if he accepts,” writes Dane Brugler of The Sports Xchange. “Taking instruction from head coach Hue Jackson and the Browns’ offensive staff would be an invaluable advantage Watson would have over several of the other top quarterback prospects in the draft.”
In addition to Watson gaining an advantage over the other top quarterbacks in the draft, as Brugler asserts, the Browns would be getting an up close and personal look at a potential franchise passer for the better part of a week.
There are many differing opinions about which quarterback coming out in 2017 is the best fit as an NFL passer. Some have suggested Mitch Trubisky out of North Carolina is a lock as the first quarterback off the board this April — an opinion this scribe does not share — while others see DeShone Kizer out of Notre Dame or Josh Allen out of Wyoming as the top prospect.
Cleveland owns the top pick as well as the No. 12 overall pick. It’s conceivable that the Browns could select pass rusher Myles Garrett at No. 1 while targeting a quarterback at No. 12. That’s a risky proposition, however, as there are many desperate teams in need of quarterbacks who’ll give up the farm to move up and snag one. We saw the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams do this last year, giving up vast sums of draft capital in the process.
Perhaps the Browns end up coming to the conclusion that Robert Griffin III is the best option, at least for the 2017 season. That’s something the franchise will be evaluating in the months to come, and it’s safe to say Jackson’s job security will be tied to whatever decision he and the team makes at the quarterback position.
Clearly, coaching Watson for a week would be extremely beneficial to the Browns as they move forward.