Cleveland Browns can make a trade to draft a QB late in first round

A scenario exists in which the Cleveland Browns can still get a quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft outside of the No. 1 and No. 12 picks.

This year, the Cleveland Browns once again have two first round picks in the draft. I won’t go into the gag reel of misses in the other years they’ve had two first rounders because, well, we’ve seen it ad nauseam. The Browns have a chance to change their identity as a laughingstock of the league, and it starts with Myles Garrett.

Garrett absolutely dominated the combine with eye-popping athleticism, and it should only make the decision that much easier on the Browns to take him No. 1 overall.

Along with Garrett’s domination at the combine, reports surfaced about Tyrod Taylor possibly being on his way out of Buffalo. Most people have connected the dots on the Browns being a potential landing spot for Taylor, so this is good news for the Browns if they like him.

For the sake of the article, let’s say the Browns sign Tyrod to a two-year deal and take a player at No. 12 that is not a quarterback.

With the quarterback class not having any prospects that scouts believe could step in and play right away, it leaves the Browns in a position to draft one and sit behind your quintessential bridge-QB in Taylor.

This unique scenario could enable the Browns to catch a slipping quarterback prospect, and trade back late into the first round to get him, similar to what the Minnesota Vikings did back in 2014.

I have a hard time seeing Mitchell Trubisky or Deshaun Watson getting out of the top 10, but guys like DeShone Kizer, Pat Mahomes, and even Davis Webb (Hue’s QB at the Senior Bowl), could be late-first to early second-round choices that the Browns could look at trading up for.

Related: Browns a likely destination for Tyrod Taylor

You may be asking yourself, “Andrew, why would they trade back into the first round when they have the first pick in the second round anyway?” And to that, I have a simple response: Control.

Teams drafting players in the first round have an extra year of control on a team-friendly rookie contract. In the Browns’ case, it gives a guy like Tyrod Taylor the perfect amount of time to be a quality starter for the Browns and develop talent around him, while keeping the heir apparent on a team-friendly deal, plus a team option for the fifth year.

The Browns also give themselves the chance to draft two quality pieces at No.1 and No. 12 overall to bolster the defense and give the players an opportunity to improve on a historically bad team. The Browns had 40 players on the roster with one year or less of NFL experience, and I have a hard time believing that they wont utilize some of that draft capital to move up and get a player, especially one they covet.

That way, when it comes time for the Browns to decide whether to re-up with Tyrod or roll with the rookie, there is a little bit more of an understanding from the front office and coaching staff on who gives them the best chance to win football games.

Next: Pryor drawing interest from several teams

As with most of my Browns ideology, some of these things that I predict happen in a vacuum. But this type of scenario is something to keep a close eye on draft night. If we see a big name quarterback prospect start to slip, expect the Browns to make a move.