2017 NFL mock draft: Mitchell Trubisky headed to Cleveland Browns

Consider the quarterback depth chart of the Cleveland Browns at present: Cody Kessler, Kevin Hogan, and Brock Osweiler. The latter will be gone before long, and Kessler and Hogan are uninspiring second-year players. Suffice to say, the Browns (as always) need a franchise quarterback.

If the NFL draft plays out like the SB Nation NFL writers’ mock draft, the Browns are in a pickle. In our scenario, Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen is still available. Although Cleveland has invested a lot of draft capital on the defensive line — including end Myles Garrett in this mock — but Allen would be hard to pass up. So do you do Allen or a quarterback like Mitchell Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes, or DeShone Kizer? Fortunately Chris Pokorny of Dawgs by Nature is back to make that determination.

Pokorny: The Cleveland Browns bolstered their offensive line significantly in free agency. After taking Myles Garrett with the first overall pick, I was surprised to see DL Jonathan Allen still available at No. 12. I was compelled to consider going over the top with regard to improving the defensive side of the trenches too by taking both Garrett and Allen and then waiting for the best available quarterback at No. 33 overall.

However, I think the quarterback market will be hot on draft day, and if there is a belief that a guy can be your franchise quarterback, waiting 21 more picks and hoping he’s still there doesn’t mesh with the belief that the player is a franchise-caliber quarterback. I know the same can be said for then why didn’t you take him at No. 1, but that speaks to the extremely high level of a prospect that Garrett is valued at. From a fan interest perspective, Trubisky is a player who the entire city of Cleveland can instantly get behind due to his local roots.

Analysis: If the Browns can come away from this year’s draft with Garrett and a player they consider a franchise quarterback, that should be considered a very good draft. Trubisky is the rare player who wants to be in Cleveland, and he’s talented so it’s storybook pairing of player and team. Hang in there Jonathan Allen. Your time will come.

The fall of Jonathan Allen continues. Sad times. Will the star Alabama pass rusher finally get picked tomorrow? We’ll find out starting at 9 a.m. ET when the Arizona Cardinals and Revenge of the Birds go on the clock.