Rosen might stay at UCLA to avoid Browns

Quarterback Josh Rosen is considering returning to UCLA in 2018 to avoid being taken by the Browns with the top pick in the draft, according to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Schefter is reporting Rosen would prefer to play for the New York Giants, who, like the Browns, have made finding a quarterback a top priority.

Heading into Week 17 of the NFL season, the Browns are 0-15 and will have the first pick in the draft.

Rosen and Sam Darnold of USC are considered the top college quarterbacks in country. Earlier in the season, Albert Breer of MMQB reported Darnold, a redshirt sophomore, might return to college for another year if the Browns had the top pick, but Darnold said that was untrue.

“I didn’t say anything about the Browns,” Darnold told reporters after the Trojans’ practice on Nov. 27.

“I’ve never said anything bad about (an NFL) team. They know I would never say anything.”

Underclassmen have until Jan. 15 to declare for the 2018 draft. According to the Schefter report, Rosen plans to meet with his parents after UCLA plays Kansas State in the Cactus Bowl on Dec. 26 before making a decision. Rosen has been ruled out of the game because he is recovering from his second concussion this season.

“Privately, Rosen has expressed concern about winding up in Cleveland and would rather be with a more stable franchise, such as the Giants,” Schefter wrote.

New Browns general manager John Dorsey is making quarterback his top priority. It would be easy for him to call Rosen’s bluff if he prefers the UCLA quarterback over Darnold or Josh Allen, the Wyoming quarterback who already has declared for the draft. All Dorsey would have to do is wait until Jan. 16 to tip his hand, and even then it would be unlikely he would make his choice public with the draft still more than three months into the future beyond the Jan. 15 declaration deadline.

Rosen’s uneasiness is understandable. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam bought the Browns in 2012. He has fired three coaches — Pat Shurmur, Rob Chudzinski and Mike Pettine. He said Hue Jackson (1-29) will return as Browns head coach in 2018, but that could change. Dorsey could fire Jackson after the Browns’ season ends in Pittsburgh on Dec. 31 and hire his own coach.

Haslam has fired the man in charge of player acquisition four times — general manager Tom Heckert in 2012, CEO Joe Banner and general manager Mike Lombardi in 2013, general manager Ray Farmer in 2015 and executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown on Dec. 7.

Rosen, 6-foot-4, 218 pounds, completed 284 of 452 passes for 3,756 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2017. He threw 10 interceptions.

He has thrown 59 touchdown passes and 26 interceptions in three seasons as the Bruins quarterback.