Jim Mora made a remark that left many scratching their heads when talking about the upcoming NFL Draft.
Mora, who recruited and coached Josh Rosen at UCLA, was asked by NFL Network whom he would take with the No. 1 pick if he were the Cleveland Browns. Rather than choosing Rosen, who is viewed as one of the top quarterback prospects in the draft class, Mora said Sam Darnold, who played for rival USC.
Mora said his decision had to do with fit.
“Because of fit, I would take Sam Darnold if I were the Cleveland Browns,” Mora said on “Path to the Draft.” “I think [he has] that blue-collar, gritty attitude. I think his teammates will love him. I think the city will love him. He’ll say the right things. He’ll come in and represent well. I think he kind of represents what Cleveland is. And then if I was one of the New York teams, I’d take Josh like that. I think they’re both going to be great pros.”
Some have interpreted Mora’s remarks as a slight and lack of loyalty towards Rosen, one of his players. But another way to look at it is he’s sticking to Rosen’s reported desire to avoid being drafted by the Browns.
Mora did get Rosen’s back though when asked whom he thinks will be the better pro between Rosen and Darnold. He said he hoped we would one day have a Peyton Manning/Tom Brady debate between the two QBs.
