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'Many in football' believe Cleveland Browns will draft Derek Carr

The brother of former first-round bust David Carr, Derek Carr could go at No. 4 to Cleveland. (Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Derek Carr

The Cleveland Browns need a quarterback and are likely to draft one with the fourth overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft. But who? While a couple names may be off the big board when the Browns select, a handful of popular names will still be available from the collection of Johnny Manziel, Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater and more.

But it's not Manziel, Bortles or Bridgewater that the Browns have their eyes on according to Mike Freeman who reports that 'many in football' believe the Browns will draft Derek Carr with the 26th overall selection.

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The stats for the two-time Mountain West Player of the Year are astounding. Last season alone, Carr completed 454 passes for 5,083 yards and 50 touchdowns — all tops in the NCAA. In eight of Fresno State’s 13 games, he topped 400 yards through the air, and surpassed the 500-yard total twice. Over back-to-back games against New Mexico and San Jose State, Carr threw for 13 total touchdowns. His numbers are among some of the most prolific all-time in FBS history. Of course, much of the credit there goes to the Bulldogs’ playbook, which featured pass after pass after pass. Still, the 6-foot-3 Carr, brother of former No. 1 overall pick David Carr, made the offense go with his rifle arm, which may be why many in football told Freeman Cleveland has its eye on Carr.

They love him. They really love him. The feeling with many in football is that Cleveland will take Carr with its 26th pick. Other quarterbacks are rising quickly, but he might be rising the fastest. He has charmed almost every team he's met with and his arm and accuracy are underrated. And no one seems to be scared of the fact he's related to epic draft bust David Carr, a notion that was definitely in play just a few months ago.

Carr appeared on NFL AM Tuesday morning recently and shared his belief that he is “absolutely” the best quarterback prospect in this year’s class. If you do not believe him, he suggests you go turn on some tape.

“Absolutely,” he said when asked if he was the best QB in the class. “And I say that with respect to all the other guys because they’re great competitors and all those good things. And it’s not easy for me to answer a question like that but I absolutely think so.

“There’s no doubt in my mind. We can turn the film on, sit down and watch it and we’ll talk about it and I’ll convince you.”

He may have already convinced the Browns.