Josh Rosen might stay at UCLA to avoid being drafted by Cleveland Browns
Josh Rosen could be the first player taken off the board in the 2018 NFL draft. But if it’s the Cleveland Browns making the selection, the redshirt junior might choose to stay at UCLA another year, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Privately, Rosen has expressed concern about winding up in Cleveland and would rather be with a more stable franchise, such as the Giants.
Rosen isn’t the first – and probably won’t be the last – top prospect to have trepidation over being drafted by the Browns. Back in November, reports surfaced that USC quarterback Sam Darnold, also considered one of the best quarterbacks in the draft, could return to college if the Browns owned the top pick. Darnold has since refuted the report, but it’s not surprising that a talented quarterback would be hesitant to join the Browns.
Since drafting Tim Couch in 1999, the Browns have started 28 different quarterbacks, have had nine different head coaches and have reached the playoffs once.
A decision on whether or not Rosen will stay in college will have to wait until after Cactus Bowl on Tuesday, according to Schefter. By that point, the Browns could have locked up the No. 1 overall selection; a loss to the Bears on Sunday would secure the No. 1 pick for Cleveland.
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• Key to Rams’ success? Jeff Fisher takes the credit
