Browns' Draft Strategy: Could Arch Manning Be the Key?
Kevin Walsh and Joe Lisi analyze the Browns' potential NFL draft plan. Do they trade up to target elite talents such as Arch Manning to bolster their roster?
Video Transcript
I wanna take this chance to talk a little bit about the first overall outlook for the Browns.
Okay?
We don't know if they're going to be the worst team in the league.
Here's what I do think.
I think the Browns are trying to give themselves at least the path to trading up to number one.
I think the Browns So let's just say, Joe, they end up with the fourth pick, right?
Let's say that Rams pick is 32.
You know, I You know, it's like, "Oh, is that gonna move the needle?"
I think the Browns will be willing to give up a lot if their guy is there.
I believe they would love Arch Manning.
Arch is the favorite.
What do you make of Arch's status as the favorite?
I mean, I understand that he was the favorite at the start of the college season, you know, last year, and he didn't live up to the hype after the first basically month and a half of the regular season, but came on down the stretch, ga- dominated Michigan, and all of a sudden all eyes were on 2026 and his performance this year.
But again, body of work matters, and in the big games he really didn't step up, especially against elite defenses.
The teams that he dominated down the stretch were sub 500 types of teams outside of the win against Texas A&M.
A- and when you look at it right now, is he gonna wanna play in Cleveland?
You know, we talk about that, you know, he doesn't wanna play for the Jets.
Well, does he wanna go- then go to the Cleveland Browns and play for a losing organization in that capacity?
I, I mean, I don't know.
But if I'm Cleveland, I have to make sure, I have missed so many times on the quarterback.
I shipped Baker Mayfield out and he turned into basically an All-Pro after I got rid of him.
I have to make sure, Kevin, that I am bought in, and make sure that Arch Manning is definitely gonna be the guy to take my organization to a potential AFC championship.
Otherwise, it's not worth the risk.
Yeah, Joe, I mean, listen, the college football season is going to tell us so, so much.
But I know people, I heard people, you know, in, in respected areas who would know say that the Browns are enamored with Arch Manning.
That was last year, right?
So could the Browns be in a situation where they may not care who looks like the best prospect, and they just try to move heaven and earth to get Arch possibly, right?
I, I wonder if in some way drafting Shedeur tells us the Browns not only want a franchise quarterback in the sense of talent, but in the sense of star power, which Arch will bring.
His last name is Manning.
I think that's totally possible that the Browns, who when they're on your TV you go, "Oof, can't get a primetime game," think Arch is going to change things.
This will be the perception changer for our franchise.
I, I think that that is absolutely possible.
Joe, is there a guy though for you?
Or let me, let me put it another way here, Joe.
If we could pop up the first overall odds once more, once more.
How many guys on this list excite you when we're talking about franchise quarterback?
Okay, so that removes Jeremiah Smith and, your boy Dillon Stewart, but I'm talking about quarterbacks here, right?
Who, how many excite you?
Not many, Kevin.
And I, I'll tell you the, when I, when I thought you were gonna pose who on that list is worthy of a first-round selection, and I would've told you it would've been Jeremiah Smith and, and Dillon Stewart because of the upside, right?
You have a dominant wide receiver and you have potentially a dominant edge rusher.
Outside of that, which one is worthy of a number one draft pick or first overall selection?
Yeah, Arch Manning has the name and the brand recognition, but again, he didn't do that against Ohio State.
He didn't do that against Georgia.
He didn't do that against the better teams i- in the SEC.
So, he didn't do that in the swamp in Florida when he was a two and a half point favorite.
He lost the game outright.
So when you're asking me which quarterback am I bought in on, they all have concerns.
C.J.
Carr, I need to see another year.
Lenoir-Sellars, if he could live up to the hype that he had two years ago when he liv- when he led, South Carolina to a nine and four record, I might say he might be the overall selection.
Mestemaker, yeah, he's a prototypical dropback passer.
He did it at North Texas.
Can he do it at Oak State and can he do it against better competition?
Dante Moore, you get the good, the bad, and the ugly.
So there's concerns all around.
That's why I say if we're talking number one draft selection, the only one- w- when you talk about mitigating risk, I'd be bought in on Dillon Stewart and Jeremiah Smith only
