WILL DARNOLD BE BOUND FOR BROWNS?
Crazy kids these days ... Minutes after UCLA’s Josh Rosen declared he would forgo his final year and make himself eligible for the 2018 NFL draft, USC’s Sam Darnold followed suit on Wednesday night.
Don’t these two young whippersnappers — who automatically vault to the top of most mock drafts lists — realize the Cleveland Browns have first pick?
“After talking to my immediate family, very close friends and many people who have helped me throughout my life, I have made the decision to declare for the 2018 draft,” Darnold said on Instagram. “I’ve been blessed that my life has been full of memorable moments and wonderful people. The people who have been involved in making me the man I am today have prepared me for the life and decisions that I have to make in the future.”
Still, you have to wonder about this life choice for Darnold, if he winds up Cleveland-bound.
The Browns, who need a quarterback unless they’re convinced after one year that former second-rounder DeShone Kizer will pan out, have selected four in the first round since 1999. Coincidentally, the past three — Johnny Manziel (2014), Brandon Weeden (2012) and Brady Quinn (2007) — were chosen with the 22nd overall pick and each proved to be a bust. The other, Tim Couch, was called first overall in 1999 and he wasn’t much better. Even in the early years, no quarterback picked in the firstround pick has ever come close to tasting success with the Browns. The very first was Harry Agganis in 1952. A two-sport star in college, he elected to sign with the Boston Red Sox while passing on a football career altogether. He died of a pulmonary embolism three years later. Perhaps Darnold is hoping his pick-six and two fumbles in USC’s 24-7 loss to Ohio State in last week’s Cotton Bowl — and the 24 turnovers he has during the season — will knock him down a peg. Now picking second next April will be the big-market New York Giants, who will soon be moving on from 37-year-old Eli Manning and should again be a contender decades before the Browns. Jets GM Mike Maccagnan, who owns the sixth pick, indicated on Thursday he’d be open to trading up to take a quarterback. So in that sense, there’s hope for Darnold and Rosen yet.