The Cleveland Browns should not draft Carson Wentz

The Cleveland Browns should not consider Carson Wentz as an option with the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

The Cleveland Browns have lost a great deal of talent since the season ended, with great players either leaving on their own accord or being released by the team.

Then there is Josh Gordon, who had his reinstatement request denied after failing yet another drug test.

This makes the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft an important one for the Browns, and perhaps the most important pick since the team returned in 1999.

When the 2015 season came to a merciful end the thought was that the Browns were leaning toward taking a quarterback, with that quarterback being either Jared Goff or Carson Wentz. Goff was a name people knew, but Wentz seemed to come out of nowhere for football fans who had never seen a North Dakota State game.

For those who don’t know, Wentz led his team to two consecutive FCS National Championships as a starter, winning MOP honors in both wins.

He stands at 6-feet-5 inches tall and has a great presence in the pocket. He has even done more than most prospects would consider doing.

He has performed well since the college football season has ended, but taking him at number two overall and handing him the hopes of the franchise is not a smart move.

The Browns need to make a pick that involves little risk and high reward. Wentz is a high-risk pick, but that is not his fault. Bringing a rookie quarterback into this current situation would be a disaster. Getting Robert Griffin III to agree to quarterback this team was a blessing in itself. Griffin’s situation is a bit different as his name is still at the top of the game, while his performance on the field must rise up from the bottom.

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Signing Griffin, along with having Josh McCown as an option, gives the Browns suitable quarterbacks while the rest of the team is improved. The second pick in the draft should look to bolster the recently depleted offensive line, or the defense that has been stripped of veteran leadership.

Carson Wentz is a talented player, but there are too many unknowns to commit to him with such a high pick. Instead of always focusing on the next big thing, the Browns should make the smart move for once and select a player that will serve as one piece that will help contribute to the team’s future success.

For once, the quarterback position can be left alone. At least in 2016.