NFL executive reveals who the No.1 draft pick will be - report
The Cleveland Browns have the top overall pick in next month’s NFL draft, and everyone assumes they’ll be taking a quarterback.
Which quarterback that will be, of course, is the big question. USC’s Sam Darnold? Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield? Wyoming’s Josh Allen? UCLA’s Josh Rosen?
But after Darnold’s pro day workout Wednesday, it appears the question has been answered
“He’s going No. 1,” one AFC executive told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer after watching Darnold’s workout. “Everyone out there today saw the Browns’ franchise quarterback.”
#NFLDraft prospect Sam Darnold throws at @USC_Athletics Pro Day! 💪🎯 https://t.co/jSjypkkLaM
— NFL (@NFL) March 21, 2018
Despite rain that at times was heavy, Darnold seemed to execute everything flawlessly in front of coaches and scouts from more than a dozen NFL teams, as well as Cleveland Browns owner James Haslam, who was in attendance.
Jordan Palmer, brother of former NFL quarterback Carson Palmer, organized the workout and said Darnold passed one test in the eyes of many scouts Wednesday.
“The time that he spends one-on-one with the Browns is more important than today,” Palmer told Sports Illustrated. “But with Sam, yeah, if you’re trying to convince the team that has the No. 1 pick that you’re their guy, today was a workout that should suffice.”
Darnold showed exceptional arm strength, accuracy and the ability to throw on the run, Palmer said.
“I wanted to move him around. I backed into him like a tackle getting bull-rushed so I could manipulate where I wanted him to go and put him in a position to have to throw off-schedule,” Palmer said. “When you do that and you’re late, especially on over routes to the sideline, you have to get it up early because you’re running out of time and space. So he makes a really subtle movement, and throws it to a spot. He was money today on that.
“On the run, he’s really, really accurate. So we showed that. It was a great day with that. It was just barely raining when we started and then turned into a torrential downpour. No flinch whatsoever, ice water through his veins.”
Others who watched the workout agreed Darnold is the clear-cut favorite to be the first overall pick.
All Sam Darnold did today was prove why he should be and IMO will be the #1 pick in the draft. Completely lit it up rain and shine.
— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) March 21, 2018
"Coming away from today, the New York Giants are on the clock. The No. 1 pick was totally solidified today."@joelklatt reacts to Sam Darnold's Pro Day pic.twitter.com/YOzwEByNVp
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) March 21, 2018
A personnel chief for one team told Breer, “He looked good, threw the ball well in the rain, moved outside the pocket well, as expected. The tape will always trump any scripted workout in shorts and T-shirts. But it was a good workout, which checks the box.”
A head coach in attendance added, “Average from the pocket but really gets you excited when he’s on the move. He can create and make unorthodox throws, and that’s the real NFL. It’s all on tape, too.”
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