With Cleveland decision-makers confirming what’s long been rumored this week about the team’s intentions to draft a quarterback with its top pick, it appears relatively safe to assume one of four passing prospects will end up in northeast Ohio next season.
After the Browns traded out of draft slots that ended up sending Carson Wentz to the Eagles and Deshaun Watson to the Texans the past two years, they appear committed to finalizing this extensive research project in the coming weeks. But which of the top QBs should be Cleveland-bound?
Sam Darnold‘s probably been the player most linked to the Browns with their top pick, but Josh Allen continues to lurk as well. And the team’s interest in Baker Mayfield persists. While Josh Rosen has become the member of this quartet least linked to Cleveland, the UCLA talent remains in relative contention here and appears a safe bet to be chosen in the top 10 — if not in the top five.
Darnold did not throw at the Combine but impressed at a rainy pro day in Los Angeles. Although some scouts would prefer he work on a slightly elongated throwing motion, the USC product does not plan to adjust it. He’s long been rumored to go in this draft slot, even before the Browns acquired it, and was much more diplomatic about being sent to Ohio than Rosen.
Hue Jackson mentioned he would prefer the Browns landing a prospect with some mobility to work in the offense alongside Tyrod Taylor. However, John Dorsey wasn’t as committed to that. Rosen would not be a great fit if the Browns sought a mobile passer, and in being viewed as perhaps the readiest pro, sitting for a full season — as the Browns would like the rookie-to-be to do as Taylor starts — may not match up with his timeline either.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has mocked Allen to Cleveland for months, and Jackson said the Wyoming talent “looks the part.” The Mountain West Conference-honed prodigy also wowed at the Combine with this blend of athleticism and arm strength, and he’s viewed as raw enough that a de facto redshirt season might behoove his development. He seemed intrigued about bucking the trend of bad QB investments in Cleveland.
Not initially viewed to be on the same tier as the other three members of this quartet, Mayfield has seen his stock climb steadily this offseason. The Heisman Trophy recipient, amid fighting off Johnny Manziel comparisons, is coming off a “great” workout with the Browns recently. He’s been linked to Cleveland consistently, particularly with Browns consultant Scot McCloughan being a staunch Mayfield proponent, but could also be available if the Browns decide to take an unconventional route and hold off their quarterback pick until No. 4.
While that’s not expected, Jackson has offered effusive Bradley Chubb praise. And it’s not certain the N.C. State pass rusher will make it past the Giants at No. 2. Saquon Barkley is listed atop many prospect lists, but no running back has gone No. 1 since Penn State’s Ki-Jana Carter in 1995. And the Browns just signed Carlos Hyde. It’s not out of the question Cleveland trades the No. 1 pick, but after what’s transpired the past two years regarding this franchise and quarterbacks, that seems unlikely.
So, which one of the passers should soon expect to look for Ohio real estate? Is Allen’s upside too tantalizing to ignore? Does the apparent clubhouse leader Darnold represent the best combination of talent and intangibles to go No. 1? Is Mayfield worthy of this pick? Or is it possible the Browns are ready to pull another unexpected maneuver and either trade the pick or select a non-quarterback? Take PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section!
Here’s a poll should hue Jackson been fired?
don’t think so.. team was lacking so much talent. granted he blew some games he could have won…but overall with the mess he had…I think giving him this year with a new regime and new attitude was right call. I do think his leash is short for this season though.
1-31 record. Any coach in any sport would be fired for that record with 2 exceptions 1 Cleveland browns coach 2 Marvin Lewis because the Bengals are fine with being 7-8 every season and never winning a playoff game
7-9*
Unless dumping games was the goal all along?
Hue is terrible
Hue could be given roster of the Eagles and turn them into a 0-16 team. Not winning a game is much more than a talent issue
Has to be… you’ve overhauled the roster, give the keys to someone who knows how to drive. While most of the team is new, they should get used to a system from a better coach rather than learning this one and more than likely having to learn an entirely new one once Jackson gets fired. I don’t care if you’ve got a dumpster fire of a roster. If you have the fourth best rushing defense in the history of the league you should be in the playoffs and not 0-16… inexcusable.
Hue gotta believe !
Take a QB. Chubb or Barkely will be there.
agree
Whic( QB?
Why pick up Barkley when you have Hyde and Duke Williams?
Why pick up a long term solution at the most important position in sports when you had Kizer and Kessler last year?
Giants taking Barkley. With the talent at WR and a two time SB quarterback, RB is the position they’ve been needing to progress.
Mayfield and Q.Nelson.
No link to click on for the poll. Same thing for that post about which team had the best offseason
Think they should draft Barkley number 1 and a QB at 4 but that’s just me. Taylor is capable of winning some games, has a decent O line in front of him, has some good WR’s around him and I know they got Hyde but he is injury prone. Can’t pass up on a back like Barkley in my opinion and you still get a top QB at 4.
Agreed. No guarantee Barkley will be there at 4. Browns could still get one of the top three QB’s (or even two) if they pick Barkley with the top pick.
It’s not a matter of getting “one of” the top few QBs, because they’re already guaranteed to get one of them anyway. They need to select THEIR GUY at #1, because for all the QB busts they’ve had, they haven’t taken their pick of the class since Tim Couch (usually they always take the third or fourth best quarterback on the board because they aren’t aggressive enough).
With the way the board looks like it’ll fall, Barkley will probably be there at 4 (if that’s even who they want). But there’s no one under any circumstances that’s worth passing on the QB you think can be the face of your franchise…especially not a running back.
Johnny Football is still on the market. He’s changed his ways.
I’m going to get some hate here…
Trade back with Jets or Giants.
Select Barkley with 2 or 3, then take Chubb with 4. Take draft capital and trade up in late first to take Lamar Jackson. All 4 QBs hold more amounts of bust potential than Chubb and Bradley(who should be stars). Jackson is the absolute perfect fit to slot behind Taylor. If he doesn’t workout there’s always next year.
The hate will be well deserved BUT…
Think of how dynamic a Jackson-Barkley-stacked Oline-Landry-Gordon-Ndjoku offense would be! And then on the other end, a Chubb-Oghba-Garrett pass rush! With more defensive talent coming in 19 and 20!
No way browns don’t pick a QB at 1. There will be options at 4 and as another commentor has already posted, no way the browns pay Hyde that kind of money and try to extend Duke Johnson (not Williams) and pick a RB at 1 overall (or 4 overall for that matter). My guess would be Darnold and Chubb at 4 if available…. I keep thinking Garrett, Chubb and Ogbah would wreak havoc on any 3rd and long.
Barkley hands down, because there is only four good quarterbacks( Rosen, mayfield, lauletta from Richmond and mike white
There is only four good quarterbacks? And they’re your four? SMH…
Polls aren’t showing up in the app.
Eli Manning
Has more Super Bowls then any QB in this draft class will and Aaron Rodgers
Taking a RB, even Barkley, over yet another franchise QB would be the most idiotic move in the history of a notoriously idiotic franchise. They CANNOT do it.
Who is a franchise QB among the 4 top QB’s? All have question marks. Rosen has a history of concussions. Darnold throws a lot of interceptions. Mayfield has had personality/off-field issues. Allen hasn’t faced a lot of top competition. He may be great. He may not. I hesitate to call any of those QB’s a sure-fire franchise QB
Trade out of 1 with bills for 12, 22, 53.. trade back up with 12, 53, and another 2nd rounder w TB for Minkah at 7.
4. Chubb
7. Minkah
22. Conor Williams/ Mcglinchy
33. Trenton Thompson
35. Sony Michel
Trade up and nab Billy Price if he’s still there before 40
Might sound farfetched but…
3 defensive starters.
Joe Thomas’s replacement.
Solid back in Michel with upside.
Versatile Price who’s a steal in 2nd round.
Don’t need to draft a QB when you have playmakers on both sides of ball if they opted to do something like this
You take Barkley and whatever scrap of a qb is left at 4.
If the Browns can draw this many comments while 0-16, how many will they draw when they actually win a game?
The best draft strategy is probably to trade the top pick to anyone who can offer good seats to Buckeye games.