Shopping the 1st Overall Pick

Word has started getting around that the St. Louis Rams have been discussing a trade for the 1st Overall selection in the upcoming 2010 NFL Draft, and that their trading partner is the Cleveland Browns. In order for the trade to happen, the Browns would have to give up so much I don't see how they would benefit from the deal.

Both teams have a lot of holes to fill. And the biggest is quarterback. Cleveland is looking to move up and select Sam Bradford. But in order to get him they would have to trade the #7 overall selection, a number of picks later in this years draft, most likely future picks (including a #1), and maybe even current players.

The question though should be 'Why doesn't Mike Holmgren like Jimmy Clausen?' He has made no secret that he is not looking to select the Notre Dame quarterback, and I wonder if his ego is starting to get in the way. There are some people that no matter what you can't tell them anything. I get the feeling that Holmgren is the same way. He gets rid of Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, and brings in Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace. Is that an upgrade? It sure doesn't look like it. Cleveland can get it's quarterback of the future in Clausen without mortgaging the ranch to get him. With Washington trading for Donovan McNabb and Seattle trading to get Charlie Whitehurst, the next team looking for a quarterback is Cleveland. Clausen could be a good fit, but it sure doesn't look like Mike Holmgren is going to take him.

Now if you are the St. Louis Rams the deal makes a lot more sense. They have more holes to fill than anyone, and if they can get a Ricky Williams type deal they can fill most of them, including the quarterback. If they can load up on picks and still select Clausen with Cleveland's #7 pick they will be getting a quarterback who played in a pro style offense in college and who many scouts have said is more pro ready than Sam Bradford.

If for some reason the deal does go down, Cleveland better hope that Bradford pans out. Having another quarterback taken in the first round turn into a bust, following Tim Couch and Brady Quinn, will set the franchise back a long, long way.