PHILADELPHIA -- Cleveland Browns general manager Sashi Brown has been steadfast in his defense of last year's blockbuster trade with the Eagles that netted Howie Roseman and Co. the No. 2 overall pick which netted quarterback Carson Wentz.

Brown has reiterated multiple times that the Browns did not view Wentz as a top-15 quarterback in the NFL and preferred to acquire the package that included four picks which gave Cleveland 12 selections in 2016 as well as the Eagles' first-round pick in 2017, and second-round pick in 2018.

During Tuesday's NFL Draft in Philadelphia Chalk Talk at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said that the Eagles owe a debt of gratitude not only to Brown and the Browns, but to Cleveland's reliance on analytics, as well.

"The Eagles can thank analytics for Carson Wentz," Kiper said. "I really think that you cannot apply analytics to a North Dakota State quarterback. How are you going to do it? He didn't play that much at North Dakota State. He was a fifth-year guy ... Who are you going to compare Carson Wentz to?

"Analytics and the Cleveland Browns, couldn't work for Carson Wentz. There's no way. I think the Eagles can thank the fact that analytics came to Cleveland at the right time, for Carson Wentz to become an Eagle. If it didn't happen, Carson Wentz would be playing in Cleveland and the Eagles would be without a quarterback."

There's no doubt that the Browns' reliance on analytics played a role in the decision to pull the trigger on a deal with the Eagles, but Brown is not the first general manager to employ analytics when it comes to talent evaluation or roster building.

Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots place a heavy emphasis on analytics data. Even the Eagles study analytics when it comes to making personnel decisions.

The fact of the matter is that the Browns did not view Wentz as a franchise quarterback, and the Eagles did.

Wentz stumbled down the stretch last season, but still finished his rookie campaign with 3,782 yards, 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with a 79.3 passer rating despite playing behind a patchwork offensive line and throwing to a wide receiving corps that dropped 24 passes.

Heading into his second season, the Eagles bolstered the talent around Wentz via the additions of wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith. Right tackle Lane Johnson's impact on the offensive line was clearly evident both in his dominant performance when he was available and the effect his absence had on the offense during a 10-game suspension for violating the NFL's Performance Enhancing Drug policy.

An improved wide receiving corps should help Wentz, but he also must correct a hitch in his throwing motion and make mechanical improvements to improve his game before a clear judgement can be made of whether it was Brown or Roseman that came out on the better end of the 2016 trade. Not to mention it's difficult to come to conclusions on the deal before a compete picture can be viewed of what the Browns netted with the picks acquired from the Eagles.

However, on face value, this appears to be a trade that could have long-term benefits for both teams.

Matt Lombardo may be reached at MLombardo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardoPHL.