Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield first of 4 QBs taken in top 10 picks.
ARLINGTON, Texas — 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 Thursday 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 USC will try 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, a potential replacement for the retired Carson Palmer.
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 thing.
“They all had something, a knock” on them, Buffalo 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.”
The Browns’ nearly two-decade search for that quarterback led them to Mayfield. Until the past few days, the Oklahoma alum was considered a long shot to go No. 1. He goes from a former walkon to No. 1 overall.
Mayfield could sit behind Taylor on a team that went 0-16 in 2017.
“I’m going to come in with the mind-set to compete and the hunger to learn” from Taylor, Mayfield said.
The Browns, who haven’t had a top quarterback since returning to the league in 1999, were sold on his leadership skills and creativity inside the pocket and outside.
Barkley, considered the best talent in this year’s class, became a father this week.
“I’ve been able to be accepted into the fatherhood and have my first child, my daughter,” he said. “From here on now, I’ve got to do everything to represent her and try to set an example for her, for the good things I do and the mistakes I make in my life that she can learn from.”
Darnold, pegged by many to be the top pick, went third to the other New York team. The Jets had traded with Indianapolis, going from sixth to third with the expressed intent to find a passer.
Like Mayfield, Darnold might sit behind an experienced QB, Josh McCown.
Tampa Bay took Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea, who is from Milpitas, with the 12th overall pick.
National champion Alabama had four firstrounders: safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami, defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne to Washington, linebacker Rashaan Evans to Tennessee, and wide receiver Calvin Ridley to Atlanta.
Buffalo took linebacker Tremaine Edwards of Virginia Tech at No. 16. Virginia Tech safety Terrell Edmunds went to Pittsburgh at No. 28. It’s the first time brothers have gone in the first round of the same draft.