The Cleveland Browns couldn’t have done a more Cleveland Browns thing to begin tonight’s NFL Draft. With the first overall pick the Browns had their choice of any of the top three quarterbacks in Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen and Josh Allen. They also had their choice of perhaps the top three best prospects in this year’s draft in Saquon Barkley, Bradley Chubb and Quenton Nelson.
There’s also no argument to be made that Cleveland could have used any one of those players.
But what do the Browns do?
Instead of drafting smart they went out and took Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield. Sure a former Heisman Trophy winner who was a stud in college but haven’t we’ve seen this recipe in Cleveland before? A short quarterback who can move in the pocket, with small hands and their fair share of off the field problems.
The moment.#BakerMayfield @Browns #OUDNAhttps://t.co/b4lA646tlw pic.twitter.com/G1MjcOsbEH
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) April 27, 2018
In any sense, Mayfield now has the opportunity to become the next failed QB in Cleveland. Mayfield is also the first quarterback since Tim Couch in 1999 to be taken first overall by the Browns. Lets also not forget Cleveland spent a first round pick (22 overall) on Johnny Manziel back in 2014.
So what should the Browns have done?
Draft Barkley one overall and if they were really sold on Baker Mayfield, take him with the fourth overall pick. If Barkley’s going first overall there’s a good chance Darnold, Rosen and/or Allen are going in each of those two spots.