After having six different guys play quarterback at some point during the 2016 season, the Cleveland Browns are still searching for a franchise player at the position. The Browns have the No. 1 and 12 picks in the 2017 NFL Draft, and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect them to draft a quarterback.
Joe Thomas doesn’t want Browns to take a quarterback No. 1 in the 2017 NFL Draft
His reasoning behind it makes sense.
Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Browns offensive tackle and 10-time Pro Bowler Joe Thomas was on The Dan Patrick Show on Thursday, and said that the team shouldn’t pick a quarterback No. 1 overall.
“I would say you want to go defense,” Thomas said. “I think you need to get a pass rusher.”
“You’ve gotta be careful reaching for a quarterback at No. 1 because if they fail, they don’t help your team at all,” Thomas said.
He added that you can still find a place for a defensive player to fit in on the team and the Browns need a player who can contribute immediately. Thomas should know: He’s one of a few first-round picks by the Browns in the past decade that has actually gone well for them.
Since Thomas has been with the Browns, they have drafted Brady Quinn, Colt McCoy, Brandon Weeden, Johnny Manziel, and Cody Kessler. Among them, Kessler is the only player still in Cleveland, with the others having relatively short careers with the team.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson has been a widely discussed option for the No. 1 overall pick. A talent like Watson might be too good to pass up, and the Browns have made it clear they’re interested in him.
But there are certainly good defensive options like Myles Garrett, who Patrick mentioned. SB Nation’s Dan Kadar currently projects the Browns to draft the Texas A&M defensive end, and if they indeed do take Garrett, then at least Cleveland could get a new taco joint out of it.
No matter who they select, the Browns will hope they turn out better than their more recent first-round picks, like Justin Gilbert, Manziel, Phil Taylor, Trent Richardson, and Weeden.
Alex Mack was a good selection, but he’s protecting Matt Ryan in Houston next Sunday for the Falcons. The Browns will hope to hang on to whoever they select in the first round this time around.
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