Mike McLain: Browns missed chance to hit a home run

For one of the rare times the Browns finally did the safe thing.

Then they went back to being the head-scratching Browns, in the process bypassing the choice of several intriguing prospects for more of what has become the new NFL catch phrase — draft capital.

To the credit of general manager Sashi Brown, he didn’t give in to the temptation to reach for a quarterback and instead went with Texas A&M defensive lineman Myles Garrett with the first pick. It was a clear moment of sanity from an official of an organization that has produced some strange moves in recent drafts. Garrett will step in right away on a defense that’s building an impressive collection of talented players.

The night appeared to be improving for the Browns when they were back on the clock at No. 12. They had their choice of such talents as quarterback Deshaun Watson, safety Malik Hooker, tight end O.J. Howard, defensive lineman Jonathan Allen and linebacker Reuben Foster.

Easy choice, right? Stick your hand in a hat and be glad to see whatever name emerges.

But not the Browns. In their analytical world — where acquiring future picks is like an addiction — the chance to add future considerations trumped any of the aforementioned players.

As time was about to expire on the 12th pick, the Browns pulled the trigger on a trade with the Houston Texans, who gave up the 25th pick this year and next year’s first-round pick. The Texans used the 12th pick on Clemson’s Watson.

The Browns can look ahead to 2018 and having two first-round picks for the sixth time since their return to the NFL in 1999, but in the process they again let one of the draft’s elite quarterbacks go elsewhere. Last year it was Carson Wentz, who landed in Philadelphia after the Browns traded out of the second spot. This year it’s Watson.

One of these days the Browns will quit chasing the future and live for the moment. Apparently no one in the organization notices that tickets for the Christmas Eve home game against the San Diego Chargers last year could be had for the price of a Starbucks mocha.

No one is saying the time to make the playoffs is now, but at least give an indication that something better than 1-15 is in the works. Landing two of the elite players in what is considered a deep draft would have been a start.

Instead, they went south — literally — for a second time in the last two months. In March the Browns helped the Texans’ muddled salary cap situation by trading for quarterback Brock Osweiler and his $16 million guaranteed contract next year. Thursday the Browns paved the way for the Texans to land a quarterback that could be the missing piece in their quest to take a step further in the postseason.

The Browns used the 25th pick on Michigan safety Jabrill Peppers, an incredibly versatile athlete who has been called a man without a true position. To make matters more interesting, they traded up to get a third first-round pick, which was used on Miami (Fla.) tight end David Njoku.

Peppers could be a huge addition, but still, think of Hooker and Garrett together on a defense that has developing talents in Emmanuel Ogbah, Carl Nassib and Danny Shelton, along with veteran linebackers Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey.

It’s true that a waiting period of four years is required to accurately grade a given year’s draft picks, but it’s impossible to wait that long when it involves the Browns. This team needs to give its fans a reason to believe that better times are ahead, which is why it was important to stick with the 12th pick and make another safe choice.

Owner Jimmy Haslam can’t afford to have fans giving away tickets for the home finale next season against the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 17. It’s especially embarrassing in a city where winning has become expected thanks to the Cavaliers and Indians.

Management will point to all the “draft capital” that’s been accumulated. Again, it’s always about the future.

When is the future going to be now?

Mike McLain has covered the Clevelabd Browns since 1980. Write him at sports@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @MichaelMcLain2.