Baker Mayfield taken No. 1 by Browns
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Cleveland Browns, once again, have a new franchise quarterback.
With the first pick in the 2018 draft on Thursday, the Browns pulled off a stunning move to draft Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield, who won the Heisman Trophy last season.
Browns general manager John Dorsey did extensive work on all of the top quarterbacks in this draft, but kept his preference for Mayfield largely secret. Buzz about Mayfield’s potential to be the top pick didn’t begin to build until the final 24 hours before the draft. Mayfield was not at the draft.
Despite Mayfield’s prowess in college “he threw 41 touchdowns and completed 70(PERCENT) of his passes for the Sooners last season “he was an unlikely choice for the No. 1 pick because of his size and questions about his oversized personality. Mayfield measured in at just under 6-1. But the Browns, clearly sold on Mayfield’s swagger and leadership, now hope Mayfield can turn around a franchise that has won just one game in the past two seasons.
The New York Giants took Penn State’s Saquon Barkley, considered far and above the best running back in the draft. As many expected, the New York Jets then went for another quarterback, Sam Darnold of Southern California.
More than 20,000 fans filled AT&T Stadium, and heartily booed Roger Goodell when he opened the three-day draft, even though the commissioner was flanked by a handful of former Dallas Cowboys stars.