THE CLEVELAND BROWNS made the logical choice with the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, but what followed Myles Garrett was yet another illustration of how important the quarterback position remains to teams.
There had been murmurs that the Browns were considering passing on Garrett, a pass rusher widely considered the best player in the draft, in order to take North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.
That speculation proved false, but drama soon ensued as the Chicago Bears struck a deal with the San Francisco 49ers to move up one spot and take Trubisky, despite having already signed Mike Glennon in free agency.
Further deals for quarterbacks followed, the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans each making big jumps into the top 15 to select Patrick Mahomes II and Deshaun Watson respectively.
Mahomes, seen by many as the wildcard in the class with his huge arm and ability to make tough throws from off-balance position, will likely have time to develop behind Alex Smith.
That luxury may not be afforded to Watson, who led Clemson to National Championship glory in his final collegiate season and may enter straight into a quarterback competition with Tom Savage.
Houston’s deal to move from 25 to 12 saw them send a 2018 first-rounder to the Browns, who now own the Texans’ top two picks in 2018. Houston gave Cleveland a second-rounder next year in a trade that saw Brock Osweiler move to the Browns earlier this offseason.
Between Trubisky’s selection and the Chiefs’ stunning move to take Mahomes, more offensive talent was surprisingly pushed up the board in what is seen as a deep defensive draft.
After the Browns, only the 49ers and Jets picked defensive players in the top 10. San Francisco took defensive end Solomon Thomas at three before safety Jamal Adams went to the Jets at six.
John Ross went ninth overall to the Cincinnati Bengals, the fastest man in Combine history one of three receivers to go in the top 10, which also saw two running backs selected as Leonard Fournette was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Panthers selected Christian McCaffrey.
But the night was dominated by Cleveland, who took safety Jabrill Peppers at 25 before then moving back into the first round to select Miami tight end David Njoku.
One position the Browns have yet to properly address, though, is quarterback. Clearly the desperation to find a franchise passer that was on show on day one of the draft is not felt in Cleveland.
Full list of first-round picks
1. Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, Defensive End (Texas A&M)
2. Chicago Bears (via trade with 49ers): Mitchell Trubisky, Quarterback (North Carolina)
3. San Francisco 49ers (via trade with Bears): Solomon Thomas, Defensive End (Stanford)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Fournette, Running Back (LSU)
5. Tennessee Titans: Corey Davis, Wide Receiver (Western Michigan)
6. New York Jets: Jamal Adams, Safety (LSU)
7. Los Angeles Chargers: Mike Williams, Wide Receiver (Clemson)
8. Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey, Running Back (Stanford)
9. Cincinnati Bengals: John Ross, Wide Receiver (Washington)
10. Kansas City Chiefs (via trade with Bills): Patrick Mahomes II, Quarterback (Texas Tech)
11. New Orleans Saints: Marshon Lattimore, Cornerback (Ohio State)
12. Houston Texans (via trade with Browns): Deshaun Watson, Quarterback (Clemson)
13. Arizona Cardinals: Haason Reddick, Linebacker (Temple)
14. Philadelphia Eagles: Derek Barnett, Defensive End (Tennessee)
15. Indianapolis Colts: Malik Hooker, Safety (Ohio State)
16. Baltimore Ravens: Marlon Humphrey, Cornerback (Alabama)
17. Washington Redskins: Jonathan Allen, Defensive End (Alabama)
18. Tennessee Titans: Adoree’ Jackson, Cornerback (USC)
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: O.J. Howard, Tight End (Alabama)
20. Denver Broncos: Garett Bolles, Tackle (Utah)
21. Detroit Lions: Jarrad Davis, Linebacker (Florida)
22. Miami Dolphins: Charles Harris, Linebacker (Missouri)
23. New York Giants: Evan Engram, Tight End (Ole Miss)
24. Oakland Raiders: Gareon Conley, Cornerback (Ohio State)
25. Cleveland Browns (via trade with Texans): Jabrill Peppers, Safety (Michigan)
26. Atlanta Falcons (via trade with Seahawks): Takkarist McKinley, Linebacker (UCLA)
27. Buffalo Bills (via trade with Chiefs): Tre’Davious White, Cornerback (LSU)
28. Dallas Cowboys: Taco Charlton, Defensive End (Michigan)
29. Cleveland Browns (via trade with Packers): David Njoku, Tight End (Miami)
30. Pittsburgh Steelers: T.J. Watt, Linebacker (Wisconsin)
31. San Francisco 49ers (via trade with Seahawks): Reuben Foster, Linebacker (Alabama)
32. New Orleans Saints: Ryan Ramczyk, Tackle (Wisconsin)
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