The Browns became convinced Baker Mayfield had the football IQ, arm talent and moxie to give them what they've long sought at QB: a winner.
Baker Mayfield vows it won't be difficult to leave the silliness in the past. "It's an easy decision to make," Mayfield said Friday, one day after the Cleveland Browns made him the first pick in the NFL draft. "It's a blessing to have the responsibility and be in this position. So for me, it's a simple choice to make the right decisions."In Mayfield's first appearance with his new team, the former Oklahoma quarterback discussed his leadership and said the transition from the Sooners' Air Raid offense to the NFL won't be too difficult.
The Browns were unlikely to give up the top pick, but even if they were willing, general manager John Dorsey told NFL Network's Steve Wyche this week they did not receive any legit offers for it.
The Browns do not have an easy situation on their hands, what with their decades-long inability to find a quarterback and the franchise coming off an 0-16 season. But in terms of this specific draft, Cleveland is set up really, really well to come away with two players who fit what the Browns need.
Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is entering his 28th season coaching in the NFL as an assistant, coordinator or head man. Over that time, Williams has worked with some impressive rookies -- Aaron Donald comes to mind -- but no one who made the transition as fast as 2017 No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett. "I've never had a chance to draft the first overall pick ever, but I've had some pretty high draft picks,'' said Williams, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "He's the one that has jumped out and fit in faster than any of the other ones, and I have had some really, really good ones. The reason that he moved up the depth chart was because of him and his teammates, not because of my evaluation.''
Investing in a bad quarterback can kill a franchise just as easily as not having one.
It’s been a long few months, but the NFL Draft is right around the corner. In exactly one week, we’ll know who the first overall pick is, what the Patriots think of Jimmy Garoppolo, and who will play quarterback for the Browns (probably). There are an unfathomable amount of rumors and smokescreens flying around right now as teams look to deceive others with leaks, so it’s hard to pin down exactly what will happen. However, with just seven days until the action kicks off, we’ve cooked up 10 bold predictions for next week’s big event.
We move on to the second round of the SB Nation NFL writers’ mock draft, starting with the Cleveland Browns. If you haven’t been following along, the Browns got pass rusher Myles Garrett and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky in the first round. With those two critical needs checked off, the Browns could fill a number of holes with their second-round picks. Chief among those needs is the secondary, where the Browns have cornerback Joe Haden and not much else. It doesn’t help that injuries have limited Haden to just 18 games in the last two seasons. There are a number of good cornerbacks, but the Browns could also use at least one starting safety. Chris Pokorny of Dawgs by Nature is back to make his third pick in our mock draft.
Browns coach Hue Jackson cherishes the No. 1 overall pick in the draft to the point that he says he wouldn't trade it, even to acquire help at quarterback.
It’s still not clear whether the Patriots plan to trade Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, but if they’re open to a deal, there’s at least one team out there that might be willing to meet their heavy demands: the Cleveland Browns. According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Browns are hoping to walk out of the first round with two players on April 29: Myles Garrett and Garoppolo. Landing that combination would be the Browns’ “Dream scenario,” Cabot reported.
How do you put together a mock draft before free agency even begins? It isn’t easy. But we love mock drafts. So this is my first attempt at putting together a mock for 2017. Don’t hold me to it. I love watching college football, always with an eye on what players can do in the NFL, so I am pretty up to date on the first-round players. But this is a draft much deeper than that.
Johnny Manziel said on Thursday he's trying to be a better person and thanked those who helped him during a "rough" 2016. "Haven't been this happy in a long time man. I appreciate all the people in my life who reached out during the truly rough patches in '16," he tweeted to his followers.
The Browns have hired Gregg Williams to fix a defense that was among the NFL's worst in 2016.
Robert Griffin III once again will be under center in an NFL game. RGIII will get the start this Sunday when the Cleveland Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals.
In naming Cody Kessler as the Browns' starting quarterback for Week 9, coach Hue Jackson said the hope is that the rookie keeps the job for the rest of the season.
After trading away linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick must come through by winning Super Bowl
Clipboard Jesus didn't last long in Cleveland. The Browns announced Tuesday they cut Charlie Whitehurst, with an injury settlement.
The Cleveland Browns are 0-3 and have a roster filled with holes, but Terrelle Pryor still has hope. The team's receiver and quarterback said he thinks the Browns can win out.
With Robert Griffin III headed to IR with a serious injury to his non-throwing shoulder, coach Hue Jackson insists the Browns have zero plans to swap for a new QB, saying: "I learned not to trade."
The Cleveland Browns have placed Robert Griffin III on injured reserve after he suffered a fractured coracoid bone in his left shoulder. He will miss a minimum of eight games.