Hollow gesture

While many NFL teams were clinching playoff spots or divisions on Sunday, the 0-15 Cleveland Browns wrapped up the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft for the second year in a row.

Not everyone is excited about the prospect of being picked No. 1.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen “would prefer to play for the Giants over the Browns and would be hesitant to declare for next year’s NFL draft if he knew that Cleveland was going to take him with the No. 1 overall pick.”

Although it is understandable any quarterback would prefer to play in New York for a relevant team than in Cleveland for a team that can’t get out of its own way, the strategy is impractical.

Here’s why the strategy is so flawed: Rosen will be required to decide whether to enter the draft in January, well before the Browns would have any obligation to commit to him. And the Browns have no duty to say or do anything until they’re on the clock in late April. And the last thing they’ll do is definitively tell Rosen “yes” or “no” before they have to.

Besides, if Rosen opts to stay at UCLA and play for Chip Kelly (whose offense doesn’t suit Rosen) for another year, there’s a chance the Browns will be in position to draft him next year.

All things considered, it feels like a clumsy effort to launch a power play aimed at getting the Browns not to draft Rosen.