2018 NFL Mock Draft: Sam Darnold goes to Browns

By Brad Weiss | Apr 25, 2018

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Sam Darnold (14) of the USC Trojans during a college football game between the UCLA Bruins vs USC Trojans on November 18, 2017 at the Los Angeles memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners throws a pass during the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

. Quarterback. Oklahoma. Baker Mayfield. 5. player. 45

The fifth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft will belong to the Denver Broncos, who made a nice move for a quarterback this offseason. The Broncos brought in Case Keenum from the Minnesota Vikings, who is fresh off leading the Vikings to the NFC title game last season. He is an instant upgrade at the quarterback position in Denver, but may not be the long term solution John Elway is looking for.

Enter Baker Mayfield, who has already told everybody he will not fall past pick No. 6 this Thursday. In Denver, he would be the quarterback of the future, and could play behind Keenum until his two-year contract runs out. That would give him the time he needs to adjust to the NFL game, as some believe he may be too small to be a successful quarterback at this level.

Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy last season, so there is no doubting his talent on the football field. He also wowed scouts with his arm strength during draft season, so he will land in the first round somewhere on Thursday night. In Denver, he makes a lot of sense, as he can learn behind Keenum, and have the ability to pick the brain of one of the best quarterbacks in history in Elway any time he sees fit.

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