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NFL Draft: Browns capable of owning top two picks?

By George Stockburger

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 03: Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield looks on during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 03: Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield looks on during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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What would it take for the Browns to swap with the New York Giants in the 2018 NFL Draft?

Reports out of the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis are that the Cleveland Browns are considering taking Penn State running back Saquon Barkley with the number one overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Considering the Browns’ decades-long need at quarterback, the decision to draft talent over need will receive mixed reviews.

Luckily, the Browns own not just the number one overall pick, but the Houston Texans fourth-overall pick from the trade that allowed Houston to draft quarterback Deshaun Watson.

General manager John Dorsey is also reportedly fond of Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield despite the comparisons to former Brown Johnny Manziel. Cleveland could theoretically take Barkley number one and hope in a quarterback-filled class Mayfield falls to four.
General manager John Dorsey is also reportedly fond of Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield despite the comparisons to former Brown Johnny Manziel. Cleveland could theoretically take Barkley number one and hope in a quarterback-filled class Mayfield falls to four. /

In the Super Bowl era only once has a team selected players with the first and second overall picks. In 1992 the Indianapolis Colts took Steve Emtman and Quentin Coryatt thanks to a lopsided trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Indianapolis traded backup quarterback Chris Chandler to Tampa Bay in August of 1990 for the Buccaneers first round pick in ’92. Tampa Bay had an atrocious 3-13 season in 1992, and tie-breakers between the Rams and Bengals would set the pick at number two overall.

Chandler never made it in Tampa Bay by the time Indianapolis used the Buccaneers draft pick after starting six games, all of which he lost.

As for the Browns this year, they certainly have the firepower to move up from the fourth-overall pick to number two with New York, owning 12 picks this year alone. Making this move would mean Barkley goes number one overall considering he’s a favorite to play for the Giants. A move up to number two would strictly be for a quarterback Cleveland has fallen in love with, which is reportedly Baker Mayfield.

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New York would be in a terrific position to trade back if Barkley goes number one to Cleveland. General manager Dave Gettelman appears contempt with Eli Manning as the starter next year and Davis Webb as the backup/development arm. Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson makes sense from a needs stand point, but not in terms of value. Considering the rush on quarterbacks expected this year the Giants could cash in and add a first round pick next year to get the eventual heir to Manning.

The Denver Broncos (5th overall), New York Jets (6), Miami Dolphins (11), Arizona Cardinals (15), Buffalo Bills (21 & 22) and Minnesota Vikings (30) are in need of a franchise quarterback, depending on who you ask with the Dolphins and Bills. Baltimore, New England, Cincinnati, Washington, Los Angeles Chargers, Steelers, and Saints could take a quarterback to develop behind a veteran.
The Denver Broncos (5th overall), New York Jets (6), Miami Dolphins (11), Arizona Cardinals (15), Buffalo Bills (21 & 22) and Minnesota Vikings (30) are in need of a franchise quarterback, depending on who you ask with the Dolphins and Bills. Baltimore, New England, Cincinnati, Washington, Los Angeles Chargers, Steelers, and Saints could take a quarterback to develop behind a veteran. /

Should Barkley be gone and the Giants aren’t impressed with this crop of quarterbacks, they could use the Browns’ extra commodities to build up their depth chart. When the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers swapped the second and third overall picks last year for the Bears to draft Mitchell Trubisky Chicago only gave up two threes and a four.

Of Cleveland’s 12 draft picks, 7 are within the first 101 this year; two in the first, three in the second, and one in the third. They also have two picks in both the fourth and fifth round.

To move up two sports for a quarterback the Browns could offer the following trade to New York to secure their guy along with Barkley.

Would a high second and third round pick along with a fifth be sufficient for the Giants? If Arizona wanted to jump up the Giants could add at least one first round pick next year. Based off what the Bears/49ers did last year, the above noted deal is fair, especially considering all those picks are high in their respective rounds.

Next: 2018 NFL mock draft: Saquon Barkley the new no. 1

This deal only makes sense for the Browns if they fall in love with a quarterback they fear will be gone before they draft again at four. All the teams mentioned earlier could trade up with the Giants or Colts to jump Cleveland if one quarterback becomes the clear favorite.

Four quarterbacks are projected to go high in the draft; Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, and Mayfield. Rosen has already indirectly said he doesn’t want to play in Cleveland. If two quarterbacks not named Rosen are taken at two and three the Browns would likely feel forced to take the one remaining, who may not be “their guy.”

All of this could change if the Browns add a quarterback in free agency or pass on Barkley all together. However, if they simply can not afford to pass on a generational talent like Barkley, they may need to make a move up for their quarterback.

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