Four prospects for third string Browns quarterback

Sam Ehlinger is a legit prospect

Sam Ehlinger is another quarterback who begs the question — what exactly do you want the quarterback to do?

He completed passes, 2,566 yards versus five INTs ( 513 yards/INT), and a 26/5 TD/INT ratio in 10 games. He played four years in the Big 12 with a completion percentage of 62.6. There’s nothing shabby there.

Well, but he has a weak arm. So say the wise sportswriters. Okay, who are we to argue?

But he can throw a football 77 yards in the air, and that has been captured on film. That should be good enough on most Sundays. Others complained that he is not athletic enough. Well, okay, but I might take the 77-yard arm and still call it good.

He is 6-foot-3, 225 lbs but is not particularly mobile. A team like Cleveland, with a strong offensive line, might be able to use his skills.

Again, scrambling skills fascinate the media as well as the owners of untalented second division teams. The main factor, however, is completing forward passes, and that is Ehlinger’s strong point.

Ehlinger is not going to be the next Lamar Jackson, but he could be a pocket passer. Is that exciting enough, or too boring?

He does not generate a great deal of national interest, but he might impress scouts more than the sporting media. The media (and owners of losing football teams) are fascinated by quarterbacks with excellent footspeed.

Scouts are more interested in the ability to complete forward passes. They will have to teach him to come under center rather than operate exclusively from the spread formation, and things like that. That’s overblown, especially for someone who is not supposed to play in 2021 or even 2022.

If none of these quarterbacks survive to Round 6, I think if I were Andrew Berry, I might call up Jerry Jones and ask if he would like a Round 6 draft pick for Garrett Gilbert, the Browns former number three quarterback, who was signed by the Cowboys last season to a two-year deal after the Browns left him unprotected.

He’s experienced, knows the Stefanski offense, and although he is old (he will be 30 this summer), the odometer reading is still very low.

He had an impressive start last year for the Cowboys against the Steelers, and prior to that in 2018 John Dorsey liked his work for the Orlando Apollos in the Alliance of American Football. He could start immediately if called upon.