Daily Dawg Tags: Draft pool grows deeper

The Cleveland Browns need a quarterback and it looks like they will have their pick of the available ones at the 2018 NFL Draft.

The Cleveland Browns are well on their way to securing the No. 1 overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Thanks to the efforts of executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown, a “Harvard lawyer” in case you had not heard, the Browns also own the first-round selection of the Houston Texans, which is almost a lock to be in the top 10 and has an outside shot of being in the top five.

The Browns will likely be looking to select a quarterback when they are on the clock next spring and the pool of available talent got a little deeper on Wednesday as UCLA’s Josh Rosen and Wyoming’s Josh Allen both reportedly declared for the draft.

Rosen and Allen join USC’s Sam Darnold and Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, along with Louisville’s Lamar Jackson (if he decides to enter the draft) as viable options for the Browns.

There will be considerable discussion and debate in the coming months about which quarterback the Browns should select. As with any position, but most notably at quarterback, each player has their pros and cons.

Rosen has dealt with a shoulder injury. Darnold’s decision making has always been a question. Jackson may need additional time to refine his game at the NFL level. Allen hasn’t faced the level of competition that the other quarterbacks have. Mayfield rubs people, especially Ohio State fanboys, the wrong way for some of his peripheral nonsense.

As the saying goes, it is good to have options and by holding the first pick in the draft the Browns have their pick of the available quarterbacks. If they do their homework, and more importantly trust their homework, they stand a very good chance of finally solving their decades-long issue at the quarterback position.

There is the little matter of getting through the final four games of the season, which carry some importance again this year. A win or two would certainly be nice as long as the Browns can still hold onto the top pick. That is rough from a fan standpoint, but the Browns have gone this far down the path that they may as well see it through to the end.

Cleveland Browns news:

Browns: Week 13 takeaways on offense

The Cleveland Browns welcomed Josh Gordon back to the field in Week 13, but the offense still couldn’t do much against the Los Angeles Chargers.

DPD Pick ‘Em Pool Week 13

The Cleveland Browns continue to lose, but things are heating up in the Dawg Pound Daily pick ’em pool as we look ahead to Week 14.

David Njoku providing Browns with bright spot (ohio.com)

"David Njoku is the youngest Browns player, and he entered the NFL earlier this year with just two seasons of experience at tight end. Those facts combined with the 21-year-old rookie’s recent performances suggest he has as much upside as anyone on the roster."

Packers offer Browns best remaining chance for a win (ESPN)

"The Cleveland Browns have four games left to avoid a winless season. Their best chance for a win in these final four games comes Sunday, when the Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay Packers visit FirstEnergy Stadium."

NFL news:

Bengals place first-round pick John Ross on injured reserve (cincinnati.com)

"The strange odyssey that was John Ross’ rookie campaign came to a quiet end on Wednesday afternoon, as the Cincinnati Bengals placed their first-round pick on injured reserve with a left shoulder injury."

NFL to consider possibility of adding targeting rule (NFL.com)

"The NFL will consider the possibility of implementing a targeting rule similar to the one currently used in college football when its Competition Committee meets this offseason. Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, said the league has received positive feedback from college officials and players about the targeting rule. He said it will be part of the Competition Committee’s February meeting agenda."

NFL extends Roger Goodell’s contract, ending weeks of discord (New York Times)

"The NFL on Wednesday extended the contract of Commissioner Roger Goodell for another five years, ending an unusually rancorous monthslong standoff with Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys’ owner, who wanted to derail the deal."

Why reinstating Eli Manning as the starter is ridiculous (MMQB)

"When former Giants head coach Ben McAdoo approached co-owner John Mara about a quarterback evaluation plan a few weeks back, Mara’s main criticism of the idea was McAdoo’s insistence on starting Eli Manning but benching him at the half."