Cleveland Browns: Hue Jackson confirms QB will be No. 1 pick
Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson publicly confirmed that the team will be selecting a quarterback at No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Cleveland Browns are in full control of the 2018 NFL offseason. With mountains of cap space that was utilized to acquire impact players at multiple positions, and a surplus of draft picks that could enable it to do the same, Cleveland will dictate the pace in every sense of the phrase.
With the American football community speculating what the Browns intend to do at No. 1 overall, the head coach officially tipped his cap.
Reports have surfaced in recent days that Cleveland has locked in on one prospect at No. 1 overall: USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold. Much could change between now and April 26, but the Browns have confirmed that they’re at least looking in that general vicinity.
According to Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com, Browns head coach Hue Jackson confirmed that the Browns will select a quarterback at No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
"“Obviously, as you guys have already pegged it, we’re taking a quarterback, and then here comes the No. 4 pick,” Jackson said Tuesday during the NFL owners meetings at the JW Marriott hotel."
Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns haven’t yet decided which quarterback to select, but Jackson believes they’re close to doing so.
"“I think we’re very close. Yeah, I think we’re close. We just haven’t had the chance to be together. I gave the staff the week off. They’re vacationing. We’re here at the owners meetings and we’ll get together here soon and put our heads together and see what’s best.”"
In other words: If you fill out a mock draft that has anyone but a quarterback at No. 1 overall, it should be prefaced with the fact that it’s what you believe the team should do.
Cleveland recently traded a third-round draft pick for former Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor. It was a decision that coincided with moves to acquire Pro Bowl wide receiver Jarvis Landry and former San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde.
Coupled with the presence of wide receiver Josh Gordon, the Browns have the personnel to boast one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL during the 2018 season.
Nevertheless, Cleveland is looking to the future and evaluating the reality that it hasn’t been led by a true franchise quarterback since its return to the NFL in 1999.
During that time, the Browns have started upwards of 20 quarterbacks in less than 20 years. Thus, it should come as no surprise that Cleveland would like to draft and develop a franchise player behind a starting-caliber veteran.
It’s certainly possible that general manager John Dorsey will change his tune and trade down, but if Cleveland knows who it wants, it’s unlikely that there will be hesitation.
Must Read: Key strengths and weaknesses for Sam Darnold
The question is: Will it be Sam Darnold whom the Cleveland Browns select at No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft?