The Cleveland Browns own the No. 1 and No. 4 picks in the 2018 NFL Draft after going 0-16 last season. They are expected to use these picks to get a starting quarterback and a player who could help boost the Browns’ offense. However, the Browns may prefer to take a running back first, and the quarterback later, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media. Rapoport said that the Browns might pick Penn State rusher Saquon Barkley with the No. 1 overall pick and reigning Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Baker Mayfield, as the No. 4 pick. Barkley was not even considered to be the No.
1 overall pick, until he impressed everyone at the NFL Scouting Combine over the weekend in Indianapolis. Barkley did 29 reps on the bench press, finished the 10-yard split at 1.54 seconds, tallied 4.40 seconds in the 40-yard dash and recorded a vertical leap of 41 inches. Barkley’s numbers are better than DeSean Jackson, Devin Hester and Julio Jones, according to NFL Research. If the Browns take Barkley, he will become the first running back selected No. 1 overall since fellow Nittany Lion Ki-Jana Carter was taken first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1995 NFL Draft.
Mayfield could change culture in Cleveland
Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy last season after completing 285-of-404 passes for 4,627 yards and 43 touchdowns with six interceptions.
In his four years in Oklahoma, Mayfield finished his career with 14,607 yards and 131 touchdowns with 30 interceptions and ran 404 times for 1,083 yards and 21 touchdowns. Mayfield is often compared to former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, whose stay in Cleveland was marred with off-field issues, Mayfield was arrested for public intoxication and invited controversy after his obscene gesture towards Kansas players.
According to draft experts, Mayfield is more talented than Manziel as he has great footwork and is a dynamic passer. The Browns currently have DeShone Kizer as a starter, but his future is now murky after a rocky rookie season.
Browns coach wants AJ McCarron
According to Peter King of MMQB, Browns head coach Hue Jackson wants the team to sign former Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback AJ McCarron to be his starting quarterback, instead of starting a rookie from the 2018 NFL Draft.
King said Jackson wants Dalton to start, while the rookie quarterback can back him up while learning the ropes in the NFL. The Browns almost acquired McCarron at the trade deadline, but the transaction fell through. The 27-year-old McCarron has thrown for 920 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions in his career as a backup to Andy Dalton.
