On Tuesday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his second mock draft of the year, with the most shocking development being former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders dropping to the New York Jets at No. 7.
The veteran draft analyst, nevertheless, places Sanders above Cam Ward in his quarterback rankings but believes the ex-Miami quarterback will be selected No. 2 by the Cleveland Browns. Why? It appears that most people in the NFL favor Ward over Sanders just a few months before draft night.
Here’s how Kiper analyzed his selection of Ward for the Browns:
I rank Sanders a bit higher than Ward in my personal evaluations, but mock drafts are meant to reflect the league’s opinions and probable outcomes. At this moment, Ward is widely regarded as the top QB in the class. He is capable of executing challenging passes from various arm positions, while on the run and under pressure. His ability to create plays both inside and outside the pocket, along with his strong arm, is remarkable, resulting in 39 touchdown passes during his last college season.
Deshaun Watson has underperformed in Cleveland since the Browns executed their major trade in 2022 and is now sidelined after tearing his right Achilles for the second time in three months. Therefore, the Browns require a solution at quarterback, and acquiring a potential franchise player on a rookie deal could aid them in swiftly reversing their situation and alleviating the impact of Watson’s contract constraining the team’s salary cap.
The Browns have been a struggle since they signed DeShaun Watson to a massive contract a few years back. Hiring Ward might be the ideal reset for a franchise that has become accustomed to undergoing resets.