Browns should have no regrets if Carson Wentz is successful
The Cleveland Browns passed on an opportunity to draft quarterback Carson Wentz in the 2016 NFL Draft.
The Cleveland Browns have been seeking a franchise quarterback since 1999. Even with all the failures of those drafted in the past, there always seems to be a sense of optimism that the next pick is going to be the great one.
That mindset followed the Browns leading up to this year’s NFL Draft, when California’s Jared Goff and North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz were the top two quarterback prospects. The Browns held the No. 2 overall pick, so it seemed like one would come to Cleveland.
Goff was taken out of the equation when the Los Angeles Rams traded up to the No. 1 pick to select the California native.
This put Wentz on a path to become a member of the Browns, presumably entering a quarterback competition with Robert Griffin III upon his arrival. That changed when the Browns traded the pick to the Philadelphia Eagles, who ultimately drafted Wentz.
The trade, which was the first of two in the first round, led to the Browns selecting wide receiver Corey Coleman with the No. 15 overall pick. He is expected to be the team’s top receiver for years to come, but he still needs a decent quarterback to get him the ball.
Passing on Wentz leaves the Browns with Griffin as the top option, while rookie Cody Kessler and veteran Josh McCown are available if needed.
Griffin, along with Kessler and McCown, does not have too high of expectations in 2016. The team is rebuilding, which is why some thought it may be smart to bring in Wentz and commit to him as the quarterback of the future.
But bringing in Griffin showed that the Browns were more focused on building the rest of the team before spending a high pick on a quarterback. This does not mean he will not be given a chance to succeed, but if Griffin fails in 2016, it will not ruin the rebuilding process as a quarterback can be drafted in 2017, or Kessler can be given a shot.
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Drafting Wentz and putting him on the field right away would be a great recipe for failure and another ruined career for a young Cleveland Browns quarterback. It is important to establish some structure and stability before putting too much stake in a rookie quarterback.
There is the strong possibility of Wentz having a successful career in Philadelphia or elsewhere, but he was not the player the Browns needed right now. There are countless star players who the Browns passed up on in previous drafts, but they may not have had the same success on such a disorganized team.
Hue Jackson was brought in to bring some structure to this team, and it will take a year of failures to find success. Wentz is a talented player, but he would have been put in a tough situation in Cleveland. A quarterback drafted in 2017 or 2018 will come to a team ready to win, but needing that final piece to become a true contender.