For weeks, we’ve heard that the Browns will select either USC’s Sam Darnold or Wyoming’s Josh Allen with the No. 1 overall pick. Reportedly, it’s more than a two-horse race. Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield is “definitely” in Cleveland’s conversation to become the top choice, an NFL executive tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
It’s a little hard to parse out what news is real this time of year. But, taken at face value, it sounds like there could be a split of opinions within the Cleveland front office. None of this year’s quarterback prospects are considered to be slam dunks, so it’s possible that the Browns are wavering on which signal caller to take.
It’s also possible that the Browns are working to give the impression that they could take Mayfield or even one of this year’s non-QBs at No. 1 overall. If the Browns can give at least one team the impression they are going to select Mayfield, it could open the door to a trade-down scenario for Cleveland. The Jets, for example, are said to be high on Mayfield, and it is conceivable that they could make another move up in this year’s draft order to land him. The Bills, armed with the Nos. 12 and 22 picks in the first round, are also in the market for a QB but are likely out of range for this year’s top four signal callers.
Publicly, GM John Dorsey has indicated that he is not concerned about Mayfield’s lack of size, which has been the main knock on him from evaluators.
“The only thing I care about is, do guys win?” Dorsey said. “Does he have accuracy? Does he have a strong arm? Can he throw the ball in the red zone in tight windows? Can he drive the ball? At the end of the game, does he win? That’s what I look for.”
come on. Let’s selcect best player in No.1, Barkley
They need a QB….why do people want them to keep passing on one to take another position that may be good but won’t change that they’d be picking in top 3 again next year
Taking Barkley at 1 would still leave one of the top 3 QBs at 4. It’s not a bad idea.
Do you want one of the top 3 QBs in the draft, or the TOP QB in the draft?
There isn’t a TOP QB. Everyone is split. If you do the homework, you would understand why. Take the best player with the best pick. Barkley. Then you will have 1-3 of Darnold, Allen, Rosen, Mayfield to choose from at 4
Why let someone else dictate which one you get? Take the one you think is best and go from there. RBs don’t win championships, QBs and defense do
There absolutely IS a top quarterback in this draft. The problem is that none are going to know who it is until about three years from now.
The likelihood that there will be three frontline starting QBs taken in the first round is remote. The Browns have to lock on to one of these guys and make the pick. Of course, it IS Cleveland, after all. Maybe they are better off NOT making the decision and taking whomever’s left.
Why let someone else dictate who they get at QB? They’re in position to get the one they want….take him. RBs don’t win you a championship….QBs and defense does
Ya right. More fake news being put forth right before the draft . Manziel #2 NOT going to Cleveland.
Why because that’s what you want? You don’t know the future.
Why not? Is it because the guy who took Manziel on the advice of a homeless person isn’t with the franchise anymore? Oh yea- that was the owner. And he’s still around. No reason to believe a new Gm has any more authority than the last the one.
Mayfield is terrible. This is hysterical if true.
1. Select barkley at 1.
2. Trade the 4th overall pick to the bills for
The 12th and 22nd pick
The 3rd round pick they gave up in the tyrod dral
3rd and 5th next year.
3. Take best OT at 12 and trade the 22nd pick to a team looking to move up a couple spots.
4. Use ypur 1st 2nd round pick on secondary or oline. Use your 3rd pick 2nd round on the QB. Rudolph Lauretta Falk are being heavily overlooked. I’d go Lauretta.
Sounds like every draft they’ve had in the past 5 years….stop trading down and take the elite player
No offense but all four of those suggestions are terrible
Not bad idea. They signed someone for this year in FA already. Any QB they pick will need to sit a year any way. Take Barkley as he’s clearly the best player in draft. Can get a QB at 4 or trade back
They traded for Tyrod Taylor, who is a free agent after the season and signed Drew Stanton, who is a career backup. They’re in position to take the best QB available, why let someone else decide who they get?
THANK YOU. If there’s a quarterback you’re sold on, you take him. Period.
I love Barkley and I know he’s gonna be a hell of a player, but under no circumstances do you let any other player (especially a running back) dissuade you from taking a franchise QB if you believe in him.
Mayfield would most likely still be there at #4 so there’s no reason they’d have to take him #1 if they really wanted him. Not that I think it’s a good idea or anything
Mayfield probably doesn’t get past the Jets at 3.
Perfect name for someone who thinks Mayfield will go before Rosen.
If Rosen stays healthy he’s going to be really good. I like Allen the most.
I usually prefer the guys like Mayfield and Darnold who just win and play fearlessly. Now Allen can’t play right away. He needs to learn for a year, and probably even two years. If he’s the top pick and plays day 1 he is a bust.
Fun fact! Mayfield was nearly as accurate on passes 20+ yards down the field as Allen was 5 yards and shorter. With the Browns being the Browns, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them trick themselves into thinking that they can “fix” Allen’s accuracy issues
Didn’t say he should. Just said he will.
If they can get NYJ to trade up that’s the best scenario for them in al likelihood. I would take 3 plus future picks since they already moved this years 2nd rounder to Indy. That would give CLE ammo to trade up next year and add another high upside player. Take Barkley/Chubb and Darnold/Allen.
If you all remember, the Browns rumored affinity for Mayfield came up in February. Before the combine, there were a lot of people that thought the Browns would take Chubb or Barkley first and then come back with Mayfield at 4…
Since then, 3 things have happened:
1- The Browns dealt for Taylor, a similarly sized QB with a similar skill set.
2- Mayfield solidified himself as one of the top 3 QBs
3- The Jets moved into the top 3, guaranteeing at least one QB will be taken between 1 and 4. Most mocks believe that player will be Mayfield.
Essentially, we’ve known for a while the Browns like Mayfield. And we are pretty certain that Mayfield will be gone no later than 3rd. If the Brown were seriously debating between Barkley and Chubb at 1 with the intention of taking Mayfield at 4, then their best course of action to acquire two of those three players would be to take Mayfield at 1 because Chubb or Barkley is guaranteed to be there at 4.
Except the rumor is the Giants love Barkley. If Cleveland is split very close on 2 QB’s, but they believe in both, take Barkley at 1 and the other QB at 4. I think the probability of the Giants taking a QB is pretty low.
This is the new era of the draft. Ratings are the priority and if everyone knew who was going where, nobody would watch.
Pull the trigger Cleveland, grab mayfield while you can, he’s a beast
Everyone loves Potential, GMs make huge trades for Potential. Barkley, Nelson, Chubb all potential Pro Bowlers. Darnold, Allen, Mayfield all potential franchise QBs.
I think you could probably get Matt Ryan and Julio Jones for the #1, #4, #33, and #35 picks and Jamar Taylor. I think if I were Atlanta, this roster isn’t going anywhere, and they could reload and start over.
#1 QB Darnold
#4 DE Chubb
#26 DT Hurst/Bryan
#33 TE Hurst/Gesicki
#35 WR Moore/Cain/Kirk/Chark
#58 Guard
If you’re Cleveland you’ve got your Franchise QB, extend him beyond this year and you have the best WR in football to pair with Landry. I would wager a few dollars that if they made this move, Joe Thomas un-retires.
When you get done fantasizing, Browns will hang on to 1 and 4 and draft a QB and non-QB accordingly…. This trade scenario is just awful. I’m going to just stop there.
Awful for which team? You’re relying on the talent evaluation process to get it right for the Browns? I know that Matt Ryan is an MVP caliber QB and that Julio Jones is the best WR. I also know that they are 32 and 29 respectively and the current roster is not good enough to get to the Super Bowl. They will have to re-up Ryan, Matthews, Levitre, Coleman. 51M to do so. Not including draft picks (5 to 7M) So 30 M to Ryan and 15M to Matthews. So need a new starting guard and rb to split with Freeman. And have to hit on every other draft pick to upgrade elsewhere.
You’re joking right? Why did you waste your time typing out that madden 18 franchise mode trade?
I don’t waste my time playing Madden. Browns don’t have a history of making the right choice unless its blatantly obvious. Several analysts have said they should take 2 QBs at 1 and 4 b/c no one knows whether any of these QBs will be good or not. All I know is that the Browns have a better chance of winning if they trade for and extend Matt Ryan and the Falcons are in cap hell this and next year with no ability to upgrade b/c their entire cap space will be taken up by Ryan and Matthews next year.
Barkley is going to be a good player, maybe even a great player. But he’s not going #1 overall. I think QBs will be taken at 1, 2 and 3. And the browns will select Chubb at 4. You can’t pay Hyde and Extend Duke while drafting a RB 1 overall. Plenty of RBs in later rounds. Dayes is still on the roster too. Browns going to get a QB, pass rusher, CB and Tackle in rounds 1 and 2. The last remaining pick in round two can be anything.
Browns should draft two QB’s with the 1 and 4
You’re not the 1st person to say that. I’ve said it before, and I’ve actually heard several analysts on TV / websites say the same thing. Darnold, Rosen, Mayfield, Allen, Jackson, Rudolph – no one knows which will pan out. They are all huge question marks. Only safe move would be to take Barkley and Chubb and try to get a QB through Free Agency or trade.
Take 2 offensive lineman and be done with it
There’s no OT worth taking in the Top-20. Nelson is the only OL worth taking Top-5, and he’s a guard.
Barkley at 1, Mayfield at 4 I think would be the best way for the Browns to go
Thank god you’re not making the picks
And you probably said the Redskins were dumb to take RG3 and Kirk Cousins in the same draft.
They didn’t take them both in the first round now did they…..