The Cleveland Browns have been mentioned with multiple quarterbacks over the past few months, and there’s reason to believe that a familiar, local name could ultimately be the best fit if the ex-Penn State star is what he can be.
According to Nathan Zegura, the Browns are “very, very high” on Drew Allar, the Penn State standout. While much of the early discussion has centered around other quarterback prospects, Zegura suggested Cleveland’s interest in Allar may be more significant than many realize.
“Could Ty Simpson be somebody that really intrigues them that they think is a real, likely answer? Possibly. Would I be surprised if he was taken in the 1st round by the Cleveland Browns? Yes, I would. What I think is more likely is a guy like Drew Allar, who the Browns were very, very high on. I think there’s a good chance Drew Allar is a Cleveland Brown. I could see them taking a flyer on Drew Allar on the third or fourth round,” Zegura wrote.
Allar spoke about playing with the Browns at the NFL Draft Combine and seemed more than open to it happening one day.
"I was, I would say, a pretty big Browns fan growing up," Allar said. "I went to every single home Browns game from the time I was 7 through my senior year of high school. My great-grandfather had season tickets, so they've been passed down since the '60s, I guess. So I've been fortunate enough to be to a lot of Browns games."
On Allar, instead of Cleveland using premium first-round capital on a quarterback, the Browns could look to add him later in the draft while continuing to build out the rest of the roster. Targeting Allar in the third or fourth round would allow them to develop a young quarterback without the immediate pressure that comes with a top pick.
For Cleveland, the tools are there. Allar brings size, elite arm strength, and experience in a high-level college program. Not to say there aren’t any questions about him, but he’s good. He’ll have to find an ideal NFL team for him to develop.