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Many owners, coaches, and front office personnel are at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. Besides hearing about things like the Oakland franchise moving to Las Vegas or the outcome of various rule proposals, there is also an opportunity to gain nuggets of information from individual franchises.
On Monday, for example, we got to hear about the Browns potentially changing their uniforms and logos. On Tuesday, Browns head coach Hue Jackson spoke with reporters at the AFC’s coaches breakfast. Here are some notes we gathered via Twitter:
Finding a Quarterback
One thing is for sure: the team isn’t just going to sit by and let the quarterback position stay the way it is.
Hue Jackson has mentioned 'finding the guy' at quarterback roughly 77 times during this meet-and-greet with scribes. #Browns
— Marc Sessler (@MarcSesslerNFL) March 28, 2017
What does that mean? That is where Jackson still remained quiet. He wouldn't talk about a trade for A.J. McCarron, other than saying, "anything is a possibility until it's not," which must be his new go-to phrasing of ambiguity if you remember what he recently said about QB Brock Osweiler being on the team (i.e. he’s on the roster until he’s not).
Also drawing a "no comment" was any talk about Patriots QB Jimmy Garoppolo. The thing that stood out the most, and perhaps most joyously, was his dismissal of QB Colin Kaepernick:
#Browns coach Hue Jackson says he hasn't watched Colin Kaepernick this offseason. Why not? "What for?" Makes clear QB focus is elsewhere now
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 28, 2017
More Dismissal of Brock Osweiler, and Veteran QB
When asked if QB Brock Osweiler would be part of the Browns during the 2017 season, Jackson said, “I don't know that. I do know that he's on our team now.” That’s another dismissive type of quote you wouldn’t see if a team planned on keeping a guy.
Per Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer, Jackson said the club has been trying to trade for a veteran quarterback. That’s even more dismissal of Osweiler in my mind.
Cam Erving at Right Tackle
Jackson confirmed Cam Erving will be competing at right tackle. Asked Erving to add size. Likes his athleticism for the position.
— Andrew Gribble (@Andrew_Gribble) March 28, 2017
In addition, per Ulrich, re-signing OT Austin Pasztor “remains a possibility.” That would presumably only happen if Pasztor doesn’t get a good contract elsewhere and comes to Cleveland on a relatively cheap contract. Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland relays that Jackson said OG Joel Bitonio will remain at left guard and will not move to right tackle.
Not Trading No. 1 Pick for a QB
It’s rare that you can get any form of confirmation on any subject matter from a head coach. We got a sliver of something from Jackson, though -- per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, the Browns will not trade the No. 1 overall pick for a quarterback. That means you can dismiss any of those crazy scenarios that said the team could trade the first pick for Garoppolo.
Jackson didn’t rule out trading down from No. 1 overall. However, reading between the lines, I think he’s basically saying that DE Myles Garrett is their guy:
Hue on 1st pick: "There's going to be a player that I think will be very good for our organization at 1."
— Andrew Gribble (@Andrew_Gribble) March 28, 2017