Browns Likely To Keep No. 1 Overall Pick

While the Browns have received inquiries into the first overall pick — including from one club that was interested in moving up for a quarterback — Cleveland is likely to stay put at No. 1, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com and Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter links). “We feel really good about picking at one,” said general manager Sashi Brown.Sashi Brown (vertical)

The Browns, notably, traded away the No. 2 pick to the Eagles last year, acquiring a bevy of picks in the process. In exchange for No. 2 and a 2017 fourth-round pick, Cleveland picked up a 2016 first-rounder (No. 8 overall), a third-round pick (No. 77), a fourth-round pick (No. 100), a 2017 first-round pick, and a 2018 second-round pick. Brown said it would be a “surprise” if Cleveland moves down in a similar manner this year, tweets Cabot.

Trading up in the first round, meanwhile, could also be on the table, as Peter King of TheMMQB.com recently speculated, but Brown doesn’t sound fond of that idea either. “Open to it,” said Brown. “Positioned to do it. Don’t want to make a habit of it.” Cleveland owns a smorgasbord of selections in the first three rounds, but the club isn’t ready to turn multiple picks into one on a regular basis.

Finally, Brown called reports that Cleveland’s front office is torn between edge rusher Myles Garrett and quarterback Mitch Trubisky “false,” but also said total consensus is not the end goal. “Even if we all agree, we constantly are pushing each other,” said Brown. “Our job is not to agree.” Brown also said Cleveland won’t convey whom it intends to select before the pick is officially announced next Thursday, per Cabot (Twitter links).

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