Early in the week, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport warned us not to be surprised if the Cleveland Browns select Teddy Bridgewater with the second of their two first-round picks at No. 26 overall.
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Browns scouts are high on the Louisville quarterback's skills, per Rapoport.
That affinity for Bridgewater isn't limited to the scouting department.
The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot reports that general manager Ray Farmer is "enamored" of Bridgewater and will strongly consider pulling the trigger on him at No. 26 overall.
Coach Mike Pettine also spoke of Bridgewater in glowing terms at the NFL Annual Meeting last month.
"I think he's extremely accurate," Pettine said. "You can tell he's a very cerebral quarterback. He understands the game very well. Understands coverages, that kind of jumps off the tape at you. To me, he seems very unfazed by things. He plays very well under pressure. He's a guy that's NFL-ready. It doesn't seem to be to big for him."
The news of the Browns' heavy interest in Bridgewater coincides with Fox Sports' Tuesday report that the team will not select Johnny Manziel at No. 4 overall.
"(Manziel) will be in the discussion at four," Pettine added, per USA Today. "We met on it again this morning. I think it is very fluid."
Deep in the heart of smokescreen season, it's impossible to decipher the Browns' plans. For what it's worth, The Plain Dealer believes the team's perfect draft would include Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson at No. 4 and Bridgewater at No. 26.
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