The regular-season opener just became a whole lot more dramatic for the Browns because they'll face the rookie quarterback they essentially traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in April.
On Monday, Eagles coach Doug Pederson named Carson Wentz his starting quarterback for Sunday's Week 1 matchup against the Browns at Lincoln Financial Field.
Eight days before the draft, the Browns traded the second overall pick to the Eagles, who used the selection to take Wentz out of North Dakota State. The Browns moved down from No. 2 to No. 8 and received picks in the third and fourth rounds this year, a first-round selection next year and a second-round choice in 2018. They later traded down from No. 8 to No. 15, where they chose wide receiver Corey Coleman.
In July, Browns chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta told ESPNCleveland.com the organization passed on Wentz despite its need for a franchise quarterback because the new regime didn't project him to become a top-20 quarterback in the NFL.
"Even though you have a desperate need for one, you have to resist the temptation of taking that guy just because you have a need if you don’t believe he’s one of those 20 guys at the end of the day," DePodesta said. "I think that’s the hardest part, just maintaining your discipline because you have the need. That’s what we did this year."
The Eagles obviously have a higher opinion of Wentz. They traded quarterback Sam Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday for a 2017 first-round pick and a 2018 conditional fourth-round selection. Wentz was third on the depth chart before the trade, but he has since leapfrogged backup Chase Daniel. Wentz played in just one preseason game and sat out the other three after suffering a hairline fracture in his ribs during the exhibition opener.
"Everybody feels like this kid is ready to go," Pederson told reporters in Philadelphia. "We drafted him to take on the reins. It's something now that we're prepared to do. He's such a special guy. This stage not too big for him.
"This is why we drafted [Wentz]. Would an ideal situation be later than sooner? Sure. But right now, where we are, we've got a good football team around him. All the pieces are here for him to be successful and us to win some games."