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2018 NFL Draft: Biggest need for each team

By Conor Dorney

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 27: Baker Mayfield #6 of the North team throws the ball during the Reese’s Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 27, 2018 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 27: Baker Mayfield #6 of the North team throws the ball during the Reese’s Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 27, 2018 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Cleveland Browns: Quarterback

It truly isn’t NFL Draft season without talking about why the Cleveland Browns are in need of a new quarterback. This year, however, the situation is at least slightly different.

New GM John Dorsey has been had one of the most active offseasons of any team in football, acquiring Jarvis Landry, Tyrod Taylor, and Damarious Randall, all via trade. It’s no secret that the Browns have the most draft capital since the sport was invented, and Dorsey has used that to bolster his roster with veterans at key positions.

Left tackle Joe Thomas’ retirement would normally point the needle towards taking a franchise tackle at the top of the draft, but in this case, the Browns are still likely to covet a quarterback above all else. With two picks in the top five, Cleveland can take their favorite quarterback at the top and then follow a “best player available” approach for the rest of the draft.

They have already spent significant time with mosts of the top quarterbacks in the draft, including Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield. I get the feeling that out of the top players at the position, Mayfield is the guy they’re leaning towards and the Browns should feel comfortable that having Tyrod Taylor in the fold won’t force the team to play Mayfield right away. A number of people have suggested taking Saquon Barkley at number one, but with the trades happening below them (likely for quarterbacks), Cleveland could hit the jackpot by still being able to take Barkley at number four.

Whatever the case may be, the Browns simply won’t be able to climb out of the cellar until they are able to address the quarterback position for the foreseeable future.

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