Carson Wentz

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) throws a pass during the first half of a the preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 17-9. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

(Chris Szagola)

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta revealed in an interview with the team's radio partner at the start of camp that the club didn't believe Carson Wentz would be a top 20 quarterback in the NFL.

That's why they traded the No. 2 overall pick to the Eagles, who will start the rookie against the Browns Sunday in the opener in Philadelphia. Wentz, from North Dakota State, is the first rookie quarterback in Eagles history to start the opener. He earned the nod Monday after Sam Bradford was traded to the Vikings.

"We have to make judgments on the individual players and we're not always going to be right," DePodesta told Tony Grossi of WKNR-850 AM/ESPN Cleveland on July 30th. "But in this particular case, we just didn't feel it was necessarily the right bet to make for us at this time. Again, it comes down to individual evaluation of a player. We will not always be right on those type of things.

"I think the hardest part, and where we have to stay the most disciplined, as much as you want a player, you can't invent him if he doesn't exist. In a given year, there may be two or three NFL-ready quarterbacks at the college level. In another year, there literally may be zero. There just may be not be anybody in that year who's good enough to be a top 20 quarterback in the NFL.

"Even though you have a desperate need for one, you have to resist the temptation of taking that guy just because you have a need if you don't believe he's one of those 20 guys at the end of the day. I think that's the hardest part, just maintaining your discipline because you have the need. That's what we did this year."

In exchange for the No. 2 pick, the Eagles gave up the their No. 8 pick in the 2016 draft, third- and four-rounders in 2016, their first-rounder in 2017 and their second-rounder in 2018. The Browns also gave Philly their fourth-rounder in 2017.

In a recent Hue Jackson feature on NFL.com, Michael Silver reported that Jackson was enamored with Cal quarterback Jared Goff and had him targeted at No. 2. Once the Rams traded up to No. 1 to draft him, the Browns began trade talks for their pick.

On Monday, Jackson declined to elaborate on why the Browns didn't draft Wentz.

"We went another direction,'' he said.

Conducting his interview coming off the practice field, Jackson -- the only NFL head coach to attend Wentz' Pro Day at North Dakota State because of inclement weather -- said Monday he didn't know that Wentz had been named the starter that morning.

"Honestly, it's not really about Philadelphia,'' he said. "It's really about our football team. They're going to do what they do and we have to do what we have to do. We are just trying to get better and get ready to play in a big game on Sunday."

Can Carson Wentz live up to the hype?@espn takes you behind the scenes of his Pro Day



📰 https://t.co/V9vAlq55JX pic.twitter.com/zVH0zz9AH2 — Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 13, 2016

Jackson was asked if he'll have to rely on watching Wentz' college film since he didn't play much in preseason. Wentz played 39 snaps in the second half of the first preseason game, but suffered a hairline fracture of the rib in that game. He hasn't played in a game since.

"I don't look at it like that,'' said Jackson. "I'm sure me and (defensive coordinator) Ray (Horton) will discuss what we need to do, but at the same time, I'm more worried about our football team. I'm not so much worried about Philadelphia.

"They have a good team. They have a good defense. I know that for sure. They have good players on offense, and Carson is a very talented young man, but at the same time, it is not going to be about them. It is going to be about us. It's about our focus and our preparation and how we go through our process during the week to get ready to play."

Wentz, who played in a pro-style offense in college and went 20-3, prepared as best he could without being able to practice.

"The whole time all along I was just getting ready for whenever this time would come," Wentz told reporters Monday. "I knew I was ready. I knew I was taking the mental reps, being out the last couple of weeks, even going out to the first preseason game. I was developing at a fast pace and now it's here. I'm confident in myself, I'm confident in this team. I'm excited for it."