Report: Browns fired scouts who favored Carson Wentz before draft

The Browns reportedly fired several scouts prior to April’s NFL draft because they were high on quarterback Carson Wentz.

The Browns fired several scouts prior to April’s NFL draft because they were high on quarterback Carson Wentz, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reports.

Cleveland had the No. 2 pick in the draft, but traded it to the Eagles along with a fourth-rounder in exchange for the No. 8, No. 77 and No. 100 picks, along with future first and second-rounders. Then, they turned around and traded the eighth selection to Tennessee, and chose wideout Corey Coleman at No. 15.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, selected Wentz at No. 2.

While the team’s chief strategy officer said in July that the Browns didn’t see Wentz as one of the top 20 quarterbacks in the league, La Canfora reports that some of the more experienced scouts in the organization preferred Wentz over Goff, who eventually went No. 1. It was this schism in the organization that caused the scouts to be released before their contracts expired after the draft.

It was curious timing for a firing, and now we know why it happened.

– Kenny Ducey