Joe Thomas says Mitchell Trubisky “might be the guy” to draft

The Cleveland Browns need a quarterback, and if they decide to draft one then Joe Thomas has some thoughts on who that player could be.

Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas has some advice for teams looking for a quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Thomas, who has been active on Twitter and quick to share his opinions since the end of the regular season, spoke on Thursday with Cleveland radio station 92.3 and said if you need a pro-style quarterback then North Carolina’s Mitchell Trubisky is the man you’ll want to take, according to Ohio.com:.

"“I know that Mitchell Trubisky is probably the guy that has the most upside potential in a pro-style offense in the NFL, and I don’t see those other guys as obvious fits in NFL offenses. So if you’re going to take a guy, he might be your guy you want to take. With that being said, I think he’s only started for a year, so he’s got a lot of improvement to make before he is ready to be the starting quarterback.”"

Now, while the Browns obviously fall into the category of a team needing a quarterback, it is important to note that Thomas did not say that Cleveland should be the team to draft Trubisky, just that he has the most potential.

The bigger takeaway is that Thomas pointed out that Trubisky is going to need “a lot” of improvement before he is ready to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. Far too many Browns fans and media members are eager to dismiss that Trubisky only started 13 games in college because they want a “hometown hero” to come in and save the franchise.

Related: Joe Thomas lays down some hard truths about the NFL

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But if the Browns do end up selecting Trubisky, or another quarterback from among the top prospects of Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes or Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer, it would be prudent for the Browns to have a clear plan in place that calls for a longterm approach to developing that player.

It is something that many will not like to hear, but if the Browns draft a quarterback it is not imperative that they take the field in the season opener this fall. If the Browns have to open the season with Cody Kessler or Brock Osweiler as the starting quarterback, so be it.

If the Browns are interested in Trubisky or another quarterback, the question then becomes how will they get them?

It will be difficult for the Browns to pass up Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett with the first overall selection, and with the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears – teams that need a longterm quarterback as much as the Browns – in the next two slots, the most-desierable quarterbacks may go off the board quickly.

Of course, with no clear consensus as to which of the available quarterbacks is the top guy, it is hard to guess what anyone will do on draft day, as ESPN’s Todd McShay pointed out, according to Ohio.com:

"“Trubisky had the most consistent tape in terms of just passing and the type of throws you have to make at the next level, and Watson has the resume and the intangibles that are just rare and elite. So it’s what makes this a very difficult process and very difficult for teams like San Francisco picking at No. 2, Cleveland at one and 12, Chicago at No. 3, looking for their future franchise quarterback. There’s an unknown with each one of these top quarterbacks. But I do think it’s Watson and Trubisky, and then Kizer’s just a little bit behind, probably later first to early second-round range.”"

Cleveland does have the draft assets to make a move in the opportunity presents itself, however, so if the 49ers and Bears decide that they are OK rolling with Brian Hoyer and Mike Glennon, respectively, and pass on a quarterback, then Jacksonville (at No. 4) and Tennessee (at No. 5) could be willing trade partners. (Although why people don’t think the Jaguars need a quarterback is a mystery.)

Next: Would Browns consider Malik Hooker at 12?

Thomas did not reveal anything that people didn’t already know, nor do his comments mean that the Browns are planning to select Trubisky. But as someone who clearly knows what it takes to play in the NFL, hearing his thoughts on different topics is always enjoyable.