It seems like an obvious statement considering the Cleveland Browns are moving on from yet another young, highly-drafted quarterback, but the organization will once again look to find their franchise signal-caller with the No. 2 overall pick in April.
It was previously speculated that the Browns would either take Cal quarterback Jared Goff or Ohio State defensive lineman Joey Bosa with the second pick, but since the hiring of Hue Jackson as the team’s new head coach and the off-the-field implosion of Johnny Manziel, it seems they’ll most certainly focus on finding the face of the franchise behind center.
Goff has been on the NFL‘s radar since the 2015 preseason and had a fantastic statistical season for the Golden Bears. Despite the team’s lackluster 8-5 overall record, Goff threw 43 touchdowns compared to just 13 interceptions for 4,719 yards. In fact, Goff owns the Pac-12 single-season records for passing yards and touchdowns. He’s confident in his abilities and told Peter King of Monday Morning Quarterback that his “accuracy is as good as it gets at [the NFL] level.”
Goff will work out at the NFL Scouting Combine next week in Indianapolis, and he’ll be joined by North Dakota State‘s Carson Wentz and Memphis‘ Paxton Lynch, who will both also be competing for the distinction of being the first quarterback taken.
Wentz threw 45 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in his career with the Bison. North Dakota State has won five straight FCS National Championships, two of which Wentz was the team’s starter.
Lynch showed a great deal of improvement each season and may hold the most upside of all three quarterbacks. He ended his college career with 59 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. He still needs a lot of work, but whoever is drafted will probably be placed behind Josh McCown on the depth chart to begin the season.
Regardless of who they select, the organization needs to be more patient with their players and coaches. No more firing a head coach after one season and cutting ties with a quarterback after a disappointing year or two. No one is questioning their decision to part ways with Manziel, but they shouldn’t have any similar issues with any of these quarterbacks.
My analysis: The Browns will select Jared Goff. There’s so much upside with Lynch and Wentz, but after years of failure in the draft, Cleveland needs a stable signal-caller and there’s no question Goff has the accuracy needed at the next level. You can get away with a lack of arm strength, but an NFL quarterback must be deadly accurate, which is why Penn State‘s Christian Hackenberg has fallen so far on everyone’s draft boards. Goff is the safest pick, and he has the confidence that you look for in a professional quarterback.
