When Browns G.M. Ray Farmer openly gushed about receiver Sammy Watkins, it became clear that Farmer hopes someone takes Watkins before the Browns pick at No. 4 -- unless Farmer has gone next level with his smokescreening.
Assuming Farmer was engaging in a more basic misdirection, the question becomes who do the Browns want, if they don’t want a wideout?
Despite a glaring need at quarterback, the Browns could be planning to take a tackle. Even with Joe Thomas anchored on the left side and center Alex Mack in place at big money for the next two years, Super Bowl XLVIII established conclusively the importance of having quality pass blockers on each side of the line. The idea of the right tackle being more of a road-grading run blocker than an athletic bookend to the blind-side protector could be on the verge of becoming obsolete.
So that puts the Browns in play for Greg Robinson (pictured), Jake Matthews, or Taylor Lewan. And it could mean that two or three tackles could be gone by the time the Raiders pick at No. 5, just like last year when three of the first four picks were tackles.
Then, the Browns can draft their next quarterback with the 26th pick in round one -- or perhaps trade back up into the teens to get him.