Breaking Down the Browns First Round Options in the 2016 NFL Draft

Quarterback

The franchise QB is the most sought after position in the NFL. A great QB can take an average team to another level. Look at what Cam Newton has done for Carolina this season. He played at a MVP level with losing his starting LT and star WR before the season. This year does not feature a clear cut franchise QB at the top like we saw in Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, and Andrew Luck in recent years. The two guys at the top are Jarod Goff of Cal and Paxton Lynch of Memphis. Goff set the PAC-12 record for passing yards and touchdowns in a season during the team’s bowl game. He had a tremendous game going 25 of 37 for 467 and six touchdowns. He has shown the ability to make all the throws you need to at the next level and has great touch on his deep ball. Some of his big concerns were the 13 INTs he threw this year and his build might make him susceptible to injuries in the future. Paxton Lynch is the fast riser this year and has the size you want for a NFL QB. He has great mobility for his size but he is the rawer of the two. He still needs to work on his footwork and would be considered more of a project. The fact that he played his college ball at Memphis and lesser opponents will hinder him as well.

Browns Analysis:

The Browns jersey should say it all. The Browns need a QB to take over the franchise more than anything. Josh McCown is not the long term answer and Johnny Manziel does not have the maturity to be it either. The Browns are stuck deciding whether one of these guys is worth their pick at number two. Jared Goff of Cal is the more NFL ready of the two QBs, being a three season starter at Cal. He can make all the throws you want but he did turn the ball over more than you would like from a possible franchise QB. Paxton Lynch is more of a wildcard. Playing at Memphis, he did not play the top notch talent that you would like to see him play against. He is also a three year starter but really took off the last two seasons. He has the size you want at 6’7” 245 pounds. The one thing the Browns must remember is to not reach for a QB. If the QB isn’t there don’t force it because you need one. Look at EJ Manuel, Christian Ponder, Brandon Weeden, and Blaine Gabbert for example. Those guys all went much higher than they should of because their team needed a QB. The Browns would be better off taking another position and getting a guy to improve the team so when they draft the QB that fits the team will be in better shape. I’m not saying Goff or Lynch is not that QB, but they are not the dominant no question top of the draft QB like we have seen in other years with QBs like Andrew Luck. In a class that’s weak elsewhere at the top, the Browns might also feel like the gap is small enough between the best player available and QB to grab one and please the new coach and let him get his QB.

Trade

The Jets traded up for Mark Sanchez, the Falcons traded up for Julio Jones, and the Bills traded up for Sammy Watkins. The Browns have all traded a top ten pick with these teams to move down so it’s a possibility the Browns can move down. This draft does not have a lot of top end talent at the top like in other years. That will also make things hard on the Browns. They have to find a player that a team is willing to give up two first round picks in order to move up and get. The most likely would be a QB having a good combine and Pro Day to bump up their stock. However the Browns would be way more tempted to take them and not move the pick if that were to happen so the only player I can see a team moving up for right now is Bosa. Bosa can be that defensive game changer like JJ Watt. That team also has to be likely to have had a bad year and think that one move can be the difference for them. The Ravens are one team I could possibly see in that role, and the Browns would hesitate on giving up a second pick to a division rival. As of now, it looks bleak the Browns would be able to move the second pick and gain an additional pick in addition to moving down and giving them more flexibility at players and positions they can look at. This team has a lot of holes and will need to take a lot of best player available picks to put some talent on the field and some guys to build around.

What the Browns Will Do: Jared Goff QB Cal

Goff likely took back over the top QB spot after the bowl performances. Goff shined strong in his game while Lynch fell flat. There is still the NFL Combine and Pro Day’s to come so things will change but as of now Goff holds the spot. The Browns are bringing in a new coach so he’s going to want to build the team the way he wants to with Haslam saying he can pretty much bring in the GM too. Most coaches would likely start at the most important position and go QB. Goff as I said is the more pro ready of the two QBs and would be the better start right away. I’m not saying he has to be Aaron Rodgers but if the Browns can get anything close to that it would be a steal. The Browns need stability and if they can get it at QB then they can focus on filling in the positions around him to make him succeed. What’s one more starting QB in Cleveland right?

What the Browns Should Do: Best Player Available
Laremy Tunstil OT Ole Miss/Joey Bosa DE/OLB Ohio State

The Browns should take whichever of the two Tennessee doesn’t and make a best player available pick. This team is nowhere close to playoff ready and that’s just looking at the roster. That doesn’t include having to get past Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Cincinnati twice a year. The Browns need the best player to give them guys to build around. Bosa is the better of the two and likely the top player in the draft. Hopefully the Browns can find a coaching staff that understands how to use them unlike the last one that had no idea how to use Kruger and some of the other guys on defense. With a Bosa pick, Mingo or Kruger would likely get traded or Kruger’s contract could allow him to be cut to make more for playing time for Bosa. Tunsil would fill an immediate need on the offensive line and in the long term could shift over to LT. The Browns need to protect their QB and 53 sacks is unacceptable.

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