Daily Dawg Tags: Browns formulating a quarterback plan

The Cleveland Browns are developing a plan for the quarterback position this fall. The trick will be sticking to the plan.

Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey and head coach Hue Jackson met with the media on Thursday, and two key takeaways emerged from their comments.

The first is that the Browns are selecting a quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft. And while Dorsey did not come out and say it directly, that quarterback will come with the No. 1 overall selection.

Dorsey did quip that he is “open for business” in regards to trading out of the top spot in the draft, but the team did not go through the past two years only to walk away from its best opportunity to finally solve the quarterback problem.

So unless Dorsey receives the most ridiculous trade offer in NFL history, it is time to accept that the Browns are selecting a quarterback at No. 1.

Which leads to the second takeaway, which is Jackson’s claim that Tyrod Taylor, who the Browns acquired a week ago, will be the unquestioned No. 1 starter this fall. (Barring an injury, of course.)

That is exactly the right avenue the Browns should take as the consensus is that each of the quarterbacks available in the draft need time to mature their game before they hit the field for an NFL team. Taylor, who may not win a game for you but won’t lose it either, appears to be the perfect quarterback to hold down the job for at least a few months.

Of course, Jackson had no intention of starting DeShone Kizer as a rookie last season, but there Kizer was lining up last fall in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was all downhill from there as Jackson did everything in his power to shortchange any chance Kizer had of being a viable quarterback.

It is not difficult to see a scenario this summer where the rookie quarterback lights up a third-string defense during the preseason and Jackson goes into a panic and repeats the mistakes of 2017.

It is a new year, however, with a new set of circumstances. And Dorsey seems confident enough to hold Jackson to his comments about the position if it comes to that.

Cleveland Browns news:

Browns trade away their best cornerback

Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey was busy on Thursday, trading cornerback Jason McCourty to the New England Patriots.

Browns quietly adding offensive line depth

The Cleveland Browns have reportedly signed two offensive tackles so far in free agency. What does this mean for the current Browns offensive line?

Losing Isaiah Crowell was addition by subtraction

The Browns lost Isaiah Crowell to the New York Jets in free agency.  But maybe that’s for the best.

Joe Thomas helping Shon Coleman work at left tackle (cleveland.com)

"Joe Thomas was already back at the Browns facility on Thursday after retiring on Wednesday, but not because he just couldn’t tear himself away. He was there working on helping his likely replacement, Shon Coleman, make the switch from right tackle to left tackle."

Tyrod Taylor wants to shed the bridge label (ohio.com)

"Tyrod Taylor is determined to prove he’s more than just a placeholder for an early draft pick by lifting the Browns to new heights. So don’t call him a bridge quarterback."

NFL news:

The changes to the Chiefs’ defense follow two specific themes (kansacity.com)

"The hope was to be scouting the New England Patriots, formulating a game plan to carry the Chiefs into the AFC Championship Game. Instead, in the middle of January, coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach were looking at film of their own team, embarking on an early offseason."

AJ McCarron shrugs off bridge quarterback label (al.com)

"Remember when AJ McCarron started at quarterback for two of Alabama’s BCS national-championship teams, won the Maxwell Award as the nation’s best collegiate player, set the SEC record for lowest interception rate and broke the Crimson Tide marks for passing yards and TD passes, and some folks labeled him a game manager? On Thursday, McCarron signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, and at the subsequent press conference, was asked what he thought about being labeled a bridge quarterback."

Raiders sign wide receiver Jordy Nelson (NFL.com)

"Jordy Nelson said his goodbyes to Green Bay less than 48 hours ago, and now he has his new team. The former Packers wideout is headed to the Bay, signing a two-year deal with the Oakland Raiders worth $15 million ($13 million guaranteed), NFL Network’s James Jones reported. The team later officially announced the signing."