Browns Considering Draft Prospects Beyond Deshaun Watson, Myles Garrett

Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson and his team will have the opportunity to take a look at several NFL draft prospects all week ahead of this Saturday’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

Browns Considering Draft Prospects Beyond Deshaun Watson, Myles Garrett

Two of college football’s top prospects, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson and Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett (both juniors), will not attend the showcase game for senior NFL prospects. Watson turned down the invitation and Garrett is ineligible. They seem to be the most likely candidates for that top pick.

Jackson and his staff are coaching the South team for Saturday’s game, which gives them a chance to analyze that batch of prospects for three days of practice plus meetings.

”To be able to put your hands on the players and coach them and push them through things is a lot different than sitting up there and seeing things kind of third-hand,” he said. ”Sometimes you can’t see. You can’t see everything. Down here you can really focus on things and see them pretty clear about what a guy’s trying to do and what he’s trying to accomplish.”

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam also traveled to Mobile this week.

Cleveland is attempting to bounce back from a 1-15 season. Their lone victory came on Week 15 at home against the San Diego (now-Los Angeles) Chargers. The Browns had the 31st-ranked scoring offense and the 30th-ranked scoring defense so they will surely take all the help they can get in terms of draft picks.

Cleveland picks first, 12th and 33rd in this year’s draft, which is scheduled to be held April 27-29 in Philadelphia.

Jackson obviously isn’t dropping any clues regarding who his team’s top choices are, but was asked whether it’s more important to select the best player or the most valuable.

”I think you have to go through it: What’s the best? Who is the best player?” Jackson said. ”We haven’t determined that. Is the best player a defensive end, is it a quarterback, is it a defensive back? I don’t know that.

”We all know a quarterback is very important to our football team, but is he the best player? We’ve got to find that out. We need to put one on our team. We’re going to find one, I promise you that.”

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney also commented while attending Tuesday’s practice.

”I’m just telling you if they pass on Deshaun Watson, they’re passing on Michael Jordan,” Swinney told reporters.

No surprise Swinney would have such high praise for his quarterback, especially after the Tigers just won the national championship over Alabama earlier this month.

John Fox and the Chicago Bears staff will be leading the North team on Saturday. Chicago will also hope to assess their own potential draft picks.

”I think it’s a huge leg up as far as getting to know guys and how they respond,” Fox said.

 TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 09: Quarterback Deshaun Watson #4 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates after throwing a 2-yard game-winning touchdown pass during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide to win the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game 35-31 at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)