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NFL Draft: What the Cleveland Browns Interest in Patrick Mahomes Means for DeShone Kizer

By Noah Strackbein

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) attempts to throw the ball against the Michigan State Spartans during the first quarter of a game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) attempts to throw the ball against the Michigan State Spartans during the first quarter of a game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the first and twelfth pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns have plenty of options. But their interest in a second-round quarterback could mean trouble for Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer.

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There are presumably three quarterbacks likely to be taken within the first twelve picks in the NFL Draft. DeShone Kizer, Mitch Trubisky, and Deshawn Watson all have their eye on a top 10 pick, and the Cleveland Browns could be the third team to take a QB at number twelve.

With recent reports stating the Browns are showing interest in former Texas Tech play caller, Patrick Mahomes, though, one of these three could be in trouble. If someone above Cleveland isn’t looking quarterback in the first round, it may mean a slide for any of these top 10 hopefuls.

No one seems to be able to grasp which of these three will go in what order. Some say Kizer is likely to end up as the first one because of his NFL arm, while others believe the Chicago Bears have their eye on Mitch Trubisky. After Watson’s historic National Championship performance, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he ended up the first QB off the board.

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The problem lies in the Browns. If Cleveland is looking quarterback in the first round, then there are no issues. If they’re looking Mahomes, one of these three are probably going to slide. How far? That’s a question no one will know until draft night.

Following a middle of the pack NFL Combine and then a redeeming Notre Dame Pro Day, no one has any idea where Kizer sits on NFL teams’ draft boards.

Someone looking for a deep threat with the biggest arm in the draft wants him. A team looking for a quarterback they think can lead them to a Super Bowl now isn’t particularly interested.

It leaves Kizer with a weird feel; he could be a top 10 pick in the draft, or he could find himself waiting until mid to late first round. The hardest part is that no one has any idea how dead set the Browns are on their decision. The worst part is that the Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Jets aren’t set on their decision.

After the twelfth pick, teams like the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, and maybe the Kansas City Chiefs will probably look quarterback at some point in this draft. If Kizer is still around when it comes time for one of them to pick, they might choose not to pass him up, but chances are they’re waiting for a later round to draft a passer.

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The draft was interesting. For the first time in years, people knew who the first pick was, but no one knew much after that. With a stacked draft class in the quarterback category, someone has to take the blow. It could be Kizer, Trubisky, or Watson. The scariest part – no one knows.

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