Sam Darnold insisted he hasn’t spoken about the Browns, a claim that is actually good news for Cleveland.

The star USC quarterback and one of the expected top picks in next year’s draft denied a month-old report that he would stay in school if the Browns wind up with the No. 1 pick, providing a bit more optimism for the fanbase of an 0-11 team.

“I didn’t say anything about the Browns,” Darnold told reporters Monday, via ESPN. “I’ve never said anything bad about [an NFL] team. They know I would never say anything.”

Darnold, a redshirt sophomore, is widely expected to be at the top of next year’s draft, should he enter it. There has been much speculation about his decision since Nov. 1, when The MMQB’s Albert Breer, citing sources, said on the radio that Darnold would wait to see if the Browns had the No. 1 pick before making an NFL decision. After nearly four weeks, Darnold tried to cast that report aside.

If the season ended today, Cleveland would have the top pick, followed by the 49ers, Giants, Colts and Chargers. What Darnold, a 6-foot-4 California native, would want in his franchise is unknown.

This season, a slightly disappointing one, Darnold has thrown for 3,462 yards and 24 touchdowns with 12 interceptions for the 10-2 Trojans, who will play Stanford on Friday in the Pac-12 championship game. UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen is also considered a possibility for the top pick.

The Browns can watch with hope. Besides, worst-scenario, who’s to say Cleveland won’t own the top pick in 2019?