Cleveland Browns: Goff, Lynch may create perfect draft scenario

The Cleveland Browns should have plenty of options when the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft comes around.

The news earlier this week that Cal quarterback Jared Goff and Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch are entering the 2016 NFL Draft may result in a perfect storm for the Cleveland Browns.

Heading into Sunday’s regular season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Browns hold the No. 2 overall selection in the draft. Barring an upset by the Zach Mettenberger-led Tennessee Titans over the Indianapolis Colts (who in turn will be led by Josh Freeman or Ryan Lindley), the Browns will most likely hold onto the No. 2 slot.

And depending on how things break with the Titans and the No. 1 pick, the Browns could be sitting very pretty when it is their turn to be on the clock.

“It’s a quarterback-centric game. And there are a number of teams out there who are looking, a larger number of teams than normal who are looking.” – Agent Leigh Steinberg

A year after selecting Marcus Mariota with the No. 2 overall pick, the Titans will not be in the market for a quarterback. (And following up the No. 2 pick by earning the No. 1 overall selection the following year is quite an accomplishment by the Titans.) That sets up two ideal scenarios for the Browns:

• The Titans realize they need to do everything they can to protect Mariota and select offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil from Mississippi.
• The Titans find a team that falls in love with either Goff or Lynch and swings a deal to move out of the top slot and add more draft picks to continue rebuilding the team.
• The Titans stand pat and select select Ohio State defensive lineman Joey Bosa, who is at or near the top of just about all the various draft lists.

That third scenario is the only one that could put a crimp in the plans of the Browns, who could certainly use a disruptive player like Bosa on the defensive line.

If the Titans stand pat and select anyone other than Bosa, however, the Browns will be faced with several options that, for once, are all positive:

• The Browns could just run to the podium and select Bosa before anyone can stop them.
• If the Browns do their homework and decide that Goff or Lynch are an improvement over the current quarterback situation on the team, then selecting one of them is a no-brainer.
• It may be hard for many to stomach, and may be hard to pull off, but the Browns could move down a few slots if they find a team that wants Goff or Lynch but didn’t want to pay the Titans’ asking price.

As to the two quarterbacks, both obviously bring something to the table and should absolutely be in the discussion as the Browns set up their draft board.

A three-year starter for Cal, Goff’s 43 touchdown passes this season broke Mariota’s Pac-12 single-season record for touchdown passes. A starter as a true freshman, he passed for 12,200 yards, 96 touchdowns and 30 interceptions.

Goff also has experience in helping a downtrodden team turn things around as the Bears were 1-11 his first season, but finished this year with an 8-5 record and the team’s first bowl game appearance since 2011.

“I think he’s as ready as anyone can be, just going through what he has gone through at Cal,” Cal coach Sonny Dykes said. “It hasn’t all been easy. That’s a big part of growing up – becoming a man, becoming a NFL quarterback is … it’s not going to go down like you want it to go down.

“A team is drafting high because they haven’t had success, so you’re going to have some growing pains and the fact that he came to Cal and was 1-11 as the starter – he’s had that experience. He’s had to deal with failure and he’s also had to deal with success. That helps prepare a guy mentally and emotionally as well as anything, when you’ve gone through what Jared has gone through.”

A rookie quarterback who grew up in college and is mentally and emotionally prepared? What an interesting concept.

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Lynch was also a three-year starter for the Tigers, Lynch completed 66.8 percent of his passes this season for 3,778 yards, 28 touchdowns and four interceptions. His numbers improved from his sophomore year, when he had a completion percentage of 62 percent, while throwing for 3,031 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

While both Goff and Lynch are projected to be the first two quarterbacks selected, they both will need some additional time and work before they are ready to take over as starting quarterbacks. Having a veteran quarterback on the roster in Josh McCown could help make not only the transition a bit easier but also make the Browns decision on the pair easier as well.

There is still a long way to go before the Browns are on the clock in the opening round of the draft.

But it is looking like they will have options and that is never a bad situation to be in.