AFC Notes: Browns, Dolphins, Jets

Browns

While Browns GM John Dorsey has said he’s open for business if a team wants to trade up to No. 1 overall, Jason La Canfora writes that the Browns are clearly drafting a quarterback high this year and “almost certainly with the first-overall pick.”

Sources have told La Canfora that they all believe it would be a waste of time to try to work on a trade up to get one of the top quarterback prospects in a deal with the Browns.

“Look, if he feels really comfortable with two quarterbacks in this draft, then maybe he is willing to move down a few spots,” an NFL executive tells La Canfora. “And if at the end of the day he believes there are three quarterbacks he can win with, and you figure the Giants take the running back (Saquon Barkley) at two, then maybe he is willing to move back a little more. I can’t tell you their board or how they have it stacked, but you can safely assume that four quarterbacks are going in the top eight picks, and the Browns are taking one of them. I assume he takes (Sam) Darnold, but you can expect a lot of suspense and them taking it down to draft night.”

La Canfora believes it’s more likely the Browns would trade No. 4 overall than the top pick, unless the Giants want to swap picks and the Browns are comfortable with Josh Allen. In the end, La Canfora expects Sam Darnold to be the No. 1 pick in the draft.

• ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said on “NFL Live” Tuesday that the “belief” is the Browns are down to Sam Darnold or Josh Allen for the No. 1 pick but Baker Mayfield is “still in the picture.” (Josh Norris)

Dolphins

• Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins aren’t pursuing a trade for Broncos RB C.J. Anderson now that they’ve signed veteran RB Frank Gore to a contract.
• According to Jackson, the belief is that Denver wouldn’t want to trade Anderson to the Dolphins anyway, considering the bad blood between Adam Gase and John Elway.
• Jackson says that Miami doesn’t expect to find their third starting linebacker in free agency and it’s more likely that this player would either come in the draft or via a trade.
• While the Dolphins are expected to add at least one more defensive tackle, Miami reportedly does not believe this player must be a starter for them in 2018.
• Jackson adds that the Dolphins have made no attempt to re-sign DE Terrence Fede, even though he has support from some members of the coaching staff and front office.

Jets

• According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, some around the NFL believe the Jets traded up to No. 3 overall with a specific plan in mind to land Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield.