Hue Jackson saw the news that had the NFL buzzing and went about his day.
The Browns coach said Tuesday he didn't have a reaction "one way or the other" when he learned last week the Rams traded a slew of picks to the Tennessee Titans for the No. 1 pick in next week's NFL Draft. The trade has been considered a game-changer by analysts around the league because the Rams are in the market for a franchise quarterback while the Titans, who landed Marcus Mariota in last year's draft, are not.
Cleveland, of course, holds the No. 2 pick, and Jackson has made it clear the organization is searching for a franchise quarterback, be it through the draft, free agency or within the current roster.
"Those are the things that are going to happen," Jackson said. "So many things are probably going to happen before the draft. We just stay true to our process and keep working and keep evaluating. Our focus is not really about what other teams do. It's about what we do and how we're going to continue to put this team together."
Jackson deferred most other draft-related questions to executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown, who will address the media later this week. Jackson expressed confidence in the entire group -- which includes vice president of player personnel Andrew Berry and chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta -- that has worked for months to prepare for moments like the one last week that changed the entire dynamic of the first round.
Asked what the Browns will do if the Rams select the player they coveted most, Jackson said, "Then they do. We can't stop it."
"At the end of the day, the Rams are going to do what they feel they need to do and the Browns are going to do what we feel to do," Jackson said. "There's no exact science to all of this. It's going to unfold as it's going to unfold.
"If I know Sashi, he's prepared and ready for anything that can happen over the next couple of weeks up to and through the draft. That's the way you have to be and that's the way you have to play it. We don't get to truly control your own destiny that way. You've got to go with it a little bit and understand what's happening."
While speculation swirls on whether the Rams are leaning toward Cal's Jared Goff or North Dakota State's Carson Wentz as their pick, the organization has remained mum and wouldn't even confirm whether quarterback was the position they would pick at the top of the draft. As Jackson said Tuesday, the Browns have to be ready to react when the pick is official and prepare for all sorts of scenarios.
"We can all put names in the hat and try to draw them out and hope it comes out that way but you really don't know until they make the pick," Jackson said. "Sashi will be on top of everything when the time comes to make sure we make the right decision."
