NFL Draft 2018: Browns taking Baker Mayfield?

The Cleveland Browns are making the first pick in the NFL Draft for the second straight year, something no team wants to be able to say. Cleveland did the right thing in 2017, selecting Myles Garrett out of Texas A&M. Despite an ankle injury that limited his rookie year, it seems Garrett is on his way to being a star.

Now, the Browns are once again going on the clock, but this time it seems they are going the controversial route. Cleveland could simply select USC’s Sam Darnold, the most polished quarterback in the class with a high floor if not incredible ceiling. In fact, Darnold probably projects out similar to another former Trojans star who was taken first-overall 15 years ago, Carson Palmer.

Browns continue to keep the decision on their No. 1 pick a secret, but there is a mounting belief from HCs and GMs around the league that Cleveland will take Baker Mayfield.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 26, 2018

However, general manager John Dorsey is eschewing all of that to apparently be smitten with Baker Mayfield, a player equal part talent and trouble. Nobody seems to be overly concerned about his arrest back in February in the town of Fayetteville, Arkansas, when he was charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct. And no, that crime is nothing compared to some of the others that have been perpetrated by college and NFL players in recent years, but it still sends a red flag up the pole.

Here Mayfield is, hoping to land a contract that will set him up for life, and he gets himself arrested. Furthermore, Mayfield admitted to not taking some requests seriously from NFL teams throughout the process, like studying the Los Angeles Chargers playbook, leading to a rough meeting and a franchise with no interest in moving forward on him.

Some will chalk all of this up to brashness and confidence, saying that his actions show why the Browns should strongly consider him with the top pick. Unfortunately, the draft is littered with players who had all the swagger and bravado of someone who had been to the mountaintop time and again, only to crash and burn once the bright lights of the NFL were upon them.

Mayfield may well turn into a fine quarterback at the next level, but the Browns can’t afford another blown pick here. The franchises has suffered through one after the next, ranging from Brandon Weeden to Johnny Manziel, to Justin Gilbert, Cameron Erving and Trent Richardson. If Dorsey whiffs, and Darnold turns into a perennial Pro Bowler, it will be an unwashable black mark on his career.