Cleveland Browns: John Dorsey’s 5 worst player additions

1. Trading the 65th overall pick for Tyrod Taylor

The idea in itself made sense: Getting a veteran quarterback to make it so whichever rookie they drafted could sit as a rookie while the Browns get credible quarterback play for a year and attempt to compete. Hue Jackson had wanted Tyrod Taylor since the previous year where trade attempts were rebuffed, but got his man to lead his offense this time.

They gave Taylor every possible snap they could with the first team offense. Jackson was adamant that he needed them all to get ready for the season, relegating Baker Mayfield to only play with the second and third team guys, where he dominated.

All of this made sense in theory. Taylor had led the dismal Buffalo Bills to the playoffs the year before when they appeared to be trying to lose. Trying to ensure Mayfield be ready before taking the field was admirable. That lasted a grand total of ten regular season quarters. Almost. Taylor was completely ineffective and then suffered a concussion against the New York Jets, forcing Mayfield into the game. Mayfield led the Browns to a comeback victory and Taylor stayed on the bench and was quickly forgotten.

Short of catastrophic injury, Taylor’s career in Cleveland is over and the net gain of the trade was Taylor showing Mayfield what it took in terms of work ethic to be a franchise quarterback. There’s a lot that Taylor has in common with Mayfield that might have rubbed off on him and created a bond between the two, but it stands to reason the Browns could have found a veteran mentor without giving up draft assets to accomplish the same thing, even if it wouldn’t have been identical.

Taylor is a great leader, a great teammate and when he’s not playing for Hue Jackson, a pretty solid quarterback. The trade simply hasn’t worked and he’ll be gone in the offseason with the Browns left to hope for some kind of compensatory pick.