The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Reaction mixed to Mayfield pick at draft party
Thousands gathered blocks away from FirstEnergy Stadium on April 26 to learn who would become the newest members of the Browns.
Excitement permeated the air at the Browns’ draft party in the Municipal Lot. Energy pumped through stacks of speakers standing next to the stage on a clear, temperate April evening maintained optimistic attitudes of supporters eager to witness a transcendent evening for their beloved franchise.
As the sun set, Lake Erie’s chill simultaneously penetrated Browns fans alongside the uneasy reality that accompanied their draft choices — Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield at No. 1 and Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward at No. 4.
Reactions were mixed to Mayfield’s selection.
Browns fans sat in rows of folding chairs and were surrounded by throngs standing, watching the big screen set up at the west end of the lot. Clad in orange and brown, twilight’s glow and overhead lights cast an orange hue on the faces who celebrated or lamented the latest quarterback selected with a firstround pick.
Some high-fived and fistpumped. Others crossed arms and exhaled sighs of disappointment. A few headed to the corner between the stage and portable restrooms that instinctively became the de facto smoking section.
Opinions varied on who the Browns should’ve drafted.
Norm and Kelly Darovich, from Parma, attend the Browns’ draft party each year. As they considered Jim Brown and the Browns’ history of running backs, they hoped for the Browns to select Penn State’s Saquon Barkley.
“We need a running back,” Norm Darovich said. “I’m tired of first-round quarterbacks that flop on us. I’m tired of that.”
Elyria’s Mark Lisicky, a season-ticket holder, echoed Darovich’s sentiment. Alongside Mayfield’s personality, he cited the biggest knock on Mayfield’s profile as a draft prospect.
“You’ve got to be taller than 6-foot-1 to play in Cleveland, I think,” Lisicky said.
Mayfield was the shortest quarterback drafted with the NFL Draft’s No. 1 pick.
Others maintained optimism. Medina’s Mark Krause and Ashley Stromack, also a pair of season-ticket holders, weren’t quick to pass judgment on the Browns’ first two draft picks.
They both agreed they hoped for Bradley Chubb to be the No. 4 pick.
“I’m not worried,” Krause said. “John Dorsey’s a smart guy. I’m not worried one bit.”
Dorsey’s first draft appeared to split the fanbase. One cheerful fan in a Jabrill Peppers jersey lauded Mayfield’s selection while one woman opined “it feels like we’re at a funeral right now.”
Either way, the party in the parking lot brought more excitement and positivity than any Sunday during the Browns’ 0-16 campaign.
Food trucks from Swenson’s, Chick-fil-A and other eateries lined the seating area in front of the big screen. An autograph tent featured Browns players, including 2017 No. 1 pick Myles Garrett. One fan won tickets to a Jay-Z and Beyonce concert on a prize wheel.
“Everybody was happier before the draft than on opening day,” Stromack said.
Any communal experience with some offering of hope was an improvement over the usual despair.
“We love our team,” Darovich said. “We love being a part of it, we love being a part of the family.”