2016 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns select Paxton Lynch
Nov 21, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Memphis Tigers quarterback Paxton Lynch (12) throws the ball against the Temple Owls during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
In FanSided’s most recent 2016 NFL Mock Draft, the Cleveland Browns have the second overall pick and select Paxton Lynch, quarterback from Memphis.
With two weeks left in the season, the Cleveland Browns have improved their way into the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
FanSided released its weekly mock draft, and for the third week in a row the Browns are selecting a different player. A week after choosing Laquon Treadwell out of Ole Miss with the top overall pick, this mock draft has the Browns selecting Paxton Lynch second overall.
The Memphis quarterback has emerged as the top quarterback in this year’s draft, but his stock is sure to rise and fall, and possibly rise again leading up to the draft.
A relative newcomer to the national spotlight, Lynch could be a good fit with the Browns. The article states:
"The Browns revisit the quarterback position once again and select Paxton Lynch from the University of Memphis. While Lynch wasn’t known to most NFL fans, his success at Memphis this season brought a new light onto a kid with some excellent skill sets. He’s going to primarily be a pocket quarterback, but he has the athleticism to move around in the pocket and possibly be a threat on the read-option if you wanted to go that route."
He measures at 6’6, or 6’7 depending on the source, which would please those who see Johnny Manziel as too short to be an NFL starting quarterback.
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The drafting of Lynch would effectively end Manziel’s tenure in Cleveland. Lynch would be brought in to be mentored by Josh McCown, who would be the perfect person to help Lynch adjust to the NFL.
He would be able to come in and be the starter, which may set this team back a few years in waiting for him to learn the professional game.
So that’s where the problem lies with this pick. The Browns would be drafting a big-body quarterback with a strong arm, but one who may not be NFL-ready yet. Or, the Browns could stick with Manziel who is progressing each week, and will enter 2016 with two years experience, although the first year was a mess.
The Browns would be better off taking a receiver such as Laquon Treadwell, or seeing what they could get by trading the pick. With Ray Farmer’s draft record, a trade may be a job-saving move, if he is even around for the draft this year.