By Adeniyi Precious 
The Cleveland Browns need a quarterback. That much is clear. If they don’t trade for one or sign a veteran this offseason, grabbing a top QB in the draft makes sense. But according to ESPN’s latest mock draft by former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, the Browns are skipping over Shedeur Sanders—even though he believes Sanders could be a top-12 QB in the league one day.
The Mock Draft’s Strange Logic
Tannenbaum has the Browns picking Travis Hunter instead, reasoning that their secondary struggled last season. Sure, Hunter is a great athlete who could also contribute on offense, but if the team doesn’t have a quarterback, what’s the point? Meanwhile, the New York Giants—who just signed Jameis Winston—snag Sanders one pick later because, according to Tannenbaum, they “can’t pass on him.”
So let’s get this straight: The Browns, who don’t have a solid starting QB, should pass on Sanders, but the Giants, who at least have Winston as a temporary starter, can’t afford to? That logic doesn’t add up.
What Are the Browns’ Options?
If the Browns really are looking at their first-round pick as a way to build for the future, they have a few choices:
Draft Hunter, as Tannenbaum suggests, and address QB later.
Go for Sanders, betting on him to be their next franchise QB.
Pick someone like Abdul Carter, another defensive talent.
Trade down for more picks or a win-now move.
But if Sanders really has as much potential as Tannenbaum believes, skipping him for a defensive back seems like a mistake. It’s hard to say what Cleveland will do come draft day, but if they pass on a future top-12 QB when they desperately need one, fans will have every right to be confused.