NFL Draft: QB Sam Darnold Presser

The Cleveland Browns surprised the National Football League world by making quarterback Baker Mayfield the first overall pick in the draft Thursday. But he is a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist – and the reigning victor – who led Oklahoma to the national semifinals with a sure and accurate arm. With 302 yards, Mayfield was one of only two quarterbacks to top 300 yards against UT’s secondary in 2017. ESPN, NFL Network and FOX will all have TV coverage. “Buckle up, buttercup, “cause ain’t nobody knowin” what’s really going down tonight!”

“What it tells you right off the bat is [general manager] Dave Gettleman did not believe that any of the quarterbacks left on the board were a franchise quarterback”, Aikman said. With the benefit of hindsight, however, it looks like a clue as to just how much the Browns fancied the Oklahoma quarterback. Truth be told, Darnold wowed pro scouts after the 2016 USC college season.

Mayfield, who went 33-6 as a three-year starter for the Sooners, is the fifth quarterback taken in the first round by the Browns in their expansion era – and first since Manziel. Houston could package two or all three of those picks to trade into the second round.

“This guy has a chip on his shoulder”.

“I’m going to come in with the mindset to compete and the hunger to learn” from Taylor.

“I’m taking it head-on, ” Darnold said. I don’t think so. Instead they got the man Aikman deemed the best. “I thought that was seen at Oklahoma and I think he’ll do it here”. He was some 190 miles away, at home with his family in Austin, Texas, when the news became official. There was a live stream on Instagram of his reaction to being selected No. 1 overall. But general manager Brian Gaine has said historically he prefers to trade down to add more picks rather than trading up.

Obviously, Stoops and Riley were in a joyous mood on Thursday.

There’s a whole different debate to be had about if it’s wise to be so firm on a pick so early on, which might not be the wisest strategy when you have six more weeks to further evaluate the options.

“This is what should have happened for him”. “What he did for us – just go back”.

Mayfield also was arrested past year in Arkansas on charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct, fleeing and resisting arrest. “He earned everything he got”.

“Year in, year out, you are always contingency planning”, Gaine said. “Nobody else in the personnel department, nobody else on the coaching staff”. NY has had one of the NFL’s worst running games in recent years, and Barkley is expected to boost an offense that has a veteran quarterback in Eli Manning and star receiver in Odell Beckham Jr. He played behind a lesser offensive line and poorer receivers, and he continued a propensity to fumble (true of him throughout high school and college) when he leaves the pocket. He loves to study the game of football. “I want the most success for these guys, except when they’re playing me”.