Cleveland Browns: Which QB Should They Draft?

When the Cleveland Browns go on the clock with the second pick in the NFL Draft (which begins April 28^th), everyone knows that they are going to pick a quarterback. The Johnny Manziel experiment is all but over, and as nice of a guy Josh McCown is, you can’t expect to win a championship with him behind center.

Unless the Tennessee Titans make a surprising trade and give away the first overall pick (whom they are firmly expected to select Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil with), the Browns should have their choice of any quarterback they want.

But the question is, who should they choose?

On the surface, this appears to be a two-man race between Cal’s Jared Goff and North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz. These are the two quarterbacks that most scouts and experts have ranked 1-2 (in either order), and both figure to be gone within the first five picks of the Draft.

A dark horse in the race, however, could be Paxton Lynch from Memphis. He had a good showing at the Combine and was actually thought to be in the mix for the top draft selection just a few months ago. Given the Browns surprising draft selections over the past couple of years, it definitely wouldn’t be a shocker if it was Lynch—and not Goff or Wentz—who heard his name called first between the three of them.

Dec 30, 2015; Birmingham, AL, USA; Memphis Tigers quarterback Paxton Lynch (12) drops back to pass against Auburn Tigers in the 2015 Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

So what are the Browns actually deciding between? Well, that depends on what scout you ask.

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Many scouts and draft experts agree that Goff is the most NFL-ready quarterback in this year’s draft. He is considered to have a good football IQ, solid fundamentals, and excellent poise and composure in big moments (i.e. on third down or in a two-minute drill). While he doesn’t have a huge arm (or hand size), he makes up for it with excellent timing and anticipation on throws.

Nov 28, 2015; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff (16) prepares to throw the ball against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium. The California Golden Bears defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils 48-46. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

The biggest drawback with Goff, though, may be his slender frame. Drawing similar comparisons with a toothpick (that’s a joke), Goff’s 6’4”, 215 pound frame has some wondering if he could survive a full 16 game NFL season, especially if he gets drafted into the rugged AFC North.

Size, meanwhile, is something that Carson Wentz doesn’t have to worry about. Standing at 6’5” and 232 pounds, Wentz’s size is being compared to that of Cam Newton’s and Ben Roethlisberger’s. Blessed with nimble feet for a big man, Wentz also has a cannon for an arm and displays good “touch” on his throws.

Jan 9, 2016; Frisco, TX, USA; North Dakota State Bison quarterback Carson Wentz (11) throws a pass in the third quarter against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in the FCS Championship college football game at Toyota Stadium. North Dakota State won the championship 37-10. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

The downside to Wentz, though, is where he comes from. North Dakota State is an FCS school, not an FBS one, and while this has no effect on his size or arm strength, it has led some to wonder about the level of competition he faced during his collegiate career. The biggest fear for some teams is that when Wentz goes up against NFL talent, he’ll get a rude awakening and crumble.

Also facing some questions about his ability to transition from college to the NFL is the aforementioned Paxton Lynch. He, like Wentz, has good size (6’7”, 245 lbs.) and arm strength, and is also blessed with quick feet. His biggest pitfall, though, is the type of offense he orchestrated in college. Memphis ran a spread offense, meaning Lynch rarely had to read a defense or make progressions. This is concerning for a lot of teams since most offenses in the NFL are predicated on quarterbacks scanning the defense, audibling if necessary, and making quick (and smart) decisions.

More nfl spin zone: Chicago Bears: What Does the Offense Need?

All in all, every quarterback (and player) coming out of college has their strengths and weaknesses, and it’s up to the teams to decide if they will fit in their systems or not.

Jan 3, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; A Cleveland Browns fan displays the names of the quarterbacks since 1999 on a mask during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Steelers beat the Browns 28-12. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

For Cleveland, a lot of pressure is on them to get this pick right. While Goff may seem like the clear choice (especially if he can bulk-up a little), at the end of the day, this is the Cleveland Browns we’re talking about, so would a pick out of left filed really surprise anyone?

Expect the unexpected with this franchise!

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