Mayfield 1st; keys QB rush
Four go in top 10 selections
Quarterback desperation means NFL teams can’t pass on taking a passer, even a flawed one, in the draft.
The Browns, Jets, Bills and Cardinals heeded that notion last night, even as more highly rated players at other positions remained on the board. Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield became Cleveland’s latest attempt to find its franchise quarterback. Sam Darnold of Southern California is trying to revive the Jets, while in upstate New York, where the Bills gave up on Tyrod Taylor,
the future belongs to Wyoming’s Josh Allen. Just after Buffalo traded up to grab Allen, Arizona moved up to get UCLA’s Josh Rosen.
Four quarterbacks in the first 10 selections. Never mind that the best players were considered Penn State running back Saquon Barkley (second overall to the Giants) and North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb (fifth to Denver).
In today’s NFL, it’s all about the QBs. Even though none of these four is considered a sure success.
“They all had something, a knock on (them),” Bills general manager Brandon Beane
said. “We just think (Allen’s) makeup is going to help him work on his flaws. That’ll be part of our job here to accentuate his strengths.”
Same deal in Cleveland, the Meadowlands and the desert.
The Browns’ nearly twodecade search for that quarterback led them to Mayfield. Until the last few days, the Oklahoma product was considered a longshot to be the top pick. He goes from a former walk-on to No. 1 overall. Mayfield is the first Heisman recipient taken first in the following draft since Cam Newton went to Carolina in 2010.
Mayfield, who could sit behind the newly acquired Taylor, joins a team that went 0-16 in 2017.
Mayfield was not at AT&T Stadium, leaving Commissioner Roger Goodell on stage, hearing cheers cascade throughout the building after announcing the Browns’ choice. It was one of the few times Goodell heard cheers.
Buffalo traded up with Tampa Bay to get Allen at No. 7. Allen is considered the passer with the most upside.
The bartering wasn’t over. Arizona, also in a QB quandary, moved from 15th to 10th, trading with Oakland, for Rosen. Many NFL personnel people believe Rosen is the most ready to play next season.
Rosen said he was annoyed to slip down.
“I was really angry teams were passing on me, and I was honestly expecting to get picked at some point and have to fake a smile and go up there and pretend to be happy,” he said. “But for some reason when I got picked, all of that went away and that it just went to straight excitement and relief.”
Also chosen in the top 10 were Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward, fourth to Cleveland; Chubb, considered the best pass rusher, to Denver at No. 5; Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson sixth to the Colts (won’t Andrew Luck be smiling about that); Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith, eighth to Chicago; and Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey, a somewhat surprising ninth to San Francisco.
Teams continued to shuffle spots deep into the first round. There were eight trades in the top 22 picks, with Baltimore moving down twice before taking South Carolina tight end
Hayden Hurst.
National champion Alabama had four first-rounders: safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami, DT Da’Ron Payne to Washington, linebacker
Rashaan Evans to Tennessee, and wide receiver Calvin Ridley to Atlanta.
Olsen not all talk yet
Greg Olsen isn’t quite ready to become a full-time NFL broadcaster. He still has football to play.
The three-time Pro Bowl tight end agreed to a twoyear contract extension with the Carolina Panthers worth $8.5 million per season, a person familiar with the situation said.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Panthers have not announced the deal.
Olsen stands to make up to $20 million in all if he reaches certain incentives, according to the source. He is now under contract through 2020.
Olsen worked as a NFL analyst last season for one game and ESPN liked his work. He has said he would consider the profession after his career is complete.
The 33-year-old Olsen became the first tight end to have three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. However, that streak ended last season when he broke a bone in his foot and missed nine games.
An 11-year NFL veteran, Olsen has twice been selected second-team All-Pro.