Predicting the Cleveland Browns' Draft Strategy
This is a critical draft for the Browns. Realistically, the past several drafts have been critical, but they haven't quite gotten it perfectly right. With two picks inside the top 5, they have a fantastic opportunity to lock in the future of their offense and finally end their QB carousel. This how the Browns should draft inside the top 5:
#1 Cleveland Browns: Saquon Barkley (RB), Penn State
#4 Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield (QB), Oklahoma OR Josh Rosen (QB), UCLA
First Overall:
Saquon Barkley at #1 should be a no-brainer. He has been talked about for the past couple of years as becoming one of the next great RB prospects to grace the NFL. Highly-touted RBs have faired extremely well in their first seasons, looking at Todd Gurley and Ezequiel Elliott. They have paved the way for guys like Barkley and make RBs a safer pick.
Fourth Overall:
Picking Barkley at #1 will likely still allow them to pretty much have their choice at QB. Any of these QBs has a chance at being successful, and with a strong running game it can take the pressure off the QB to deliver right away. The Browns have not really been that patient with their QBs, which is probably part of the reason why they have had so much turnover at that position in recent years.
Getting Mayfield at #4 means they have a guy who could compete for the starting job. He would have a little more of an outside chance at winning it, but he could certainly make Tyrod Taylor work to hold on to it.
Rosen, who is arguably the best QB in terms of the mental game, also would be a great pick. That is, if he is still available. The Jets seem to be most likely to take either Rosen or Mayfield at #3, and the Browns should take whichever they pass on. I don't think they can go wrong with either one of these QBs.
At the end of the day, the Browns need a QB more than any team in the league. However, this should not mean that they should go out and get him at #1. Barkley is as close of a sure thing as they're going to get. QB prospects don't always pan out as has been shown the past few years. Chasing a Carson Wentz or another QB who has thrived in their early years could ultimately lead them to pick another bust. As far as many Browns fans are concerned, not getting their franchise QB this year would mean yet another failed draft.
