Rich Paul Compares Browns Passing on Josh Allen to Timberwolves Missing on Steph Curry
Josh Allen’s rise from raw prospect to NFL MVP has been one of the most compelling quarterback stories of the past decade. But for Cleveland Browns fans, his emergence stings a little more-especially when you remember the franchise had not one, but two chances to draft him in 2018.
That fact didn’t sit well with Rich Paul, the high-profile sports agent and Cleveland native, who brought it up on a recent episode of his podcast Game Over, co-hosted with Max Kellerman.
“Did my Browns pass on Josh Allen?” Paul asked, clearly surprised.
Kellerman didn’t sugarcoat it. “They passed on him twice,” he replied.
Paul’s reaction? A stunned comparison to one of the most infamous draft missteps in NBA history: “Twice?
The last time somebody passed on somebody twice like that was the Minnesota Timberwolves. They passed on Steph Curry twice.
I represented Johnny Flynn, so I know.”
It’s a comparison that cuts deep for fans of both franchises.
Let’s rewind. In the 2009 NBA Draft, the Timberwolves selected Ricky Rubio at No. 5 and Johnny Flynn at No.
- Sitting right there at No.
7? Stephen Curry, who was scooped up by the Golden State Warriors and went on to redefine the modern NBA with his shooting and championship pedigree.
Fast forward to 2018. The Browns held the No. 1 and No. 4 picks in the NFL Draft.
They used the top pick on Baker Mayfield and followed that up by selecting cornerback Denzel Ward at No. 4.
Josh Allen, considered a high-upside but raw prospect out of Wyoming, fell to the Buffalo Bills at No. 7.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Allen has since blossomed into one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, culminating in an MVP award in 2024 and a massive six-year, $330 million extension with Buffalo earlier this year. He’s become the kind of franchise cornerstone the Browns have been searching for since their return to the league in 1999.
Mayfield, meanwhile, had a rollercoaster tenure in Cleveland, leading the team to a playoff win in 2020 but eventually falling out of favor and moving on. Ward has been a solid piece on defense, but when you pass on a future MVP quarterback-twice-it’s going to raise eyebrows.
Paul’s comparison to the Timberwolves’ Curry miss isn’t just about hindsight. It’s about opportunity.
Both franchises had multiple chances to grab a generational talent and went in another direction. For fans, it’s a reminder of how pivotal draft decisions can be-and how long their impact can linger.
Rich Paul Says Steph Curry Belongs on the Same Shelf as Jordan, LeBron, and Kobe
While Paul’s NFL commentary made waves, his NBA take on the same podcast episode might have stirred up even more debate.
In a conversation about the greatest of all time, Paul didn’t hesitate to put Steph Curry in elite company-right alongside Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant.
“We talk about replacing MJ. It’s like, no.
Michael Jordan's up there,” Paul said. “If someone else comes along, and they go on the same shelf as Michael Jordan-which is, i.e., LeBron.
Kobe goes up there on the shelf. I now think Steph Curry goes up on the shelf with those guys.”
That’s a bold statement, even in today’s wide-open GOAT discussions. And Kellerman wasn’t buying it.
“You think Steph Curry is on the same shelf as Michael Jordan?” he asked, clearly skeptical. “They are not on the same shelf.”
The debate over Curry’s place in NBA history has intensified in recent years. With multiple MVPs, four championships, and a revolutionary impact on how basketball is played, Curry’s resume is undeniably impressive. But comparing him to Jordan-a six-time champion and the gold standard for basketball greatness-remains a hot-button issue.
Still, Paul’s point wasn’t necessarily about stats or rings. It was about legacy.
About who changes the game. And whether fans agree with him or not, there’s no question Curry has left a permanent mark on the sport.
Whether it’s the NFL Draft or the NBA GOAT debate, Rich Paul isn’t afraid to stir the pot-and he’s not wrong for pointing out the moments and players that changed the game forever.