2016 NFL Draft: Carson Wentz Clear Option For Browns
The Cleveland Browns have a decision to make with the second pick of the 2016 NFL Draft, but the correct choice is clear.
Despite reports today that the Cleveland Browns’ offensive minds prefer quarterback Jared Goff, Carson Wentz should be the clear choice at second overall in April’s NFL Draft.
The Browns remain the unanimous laughing stock of the NFL, but a complete organizational overhaul could turn things around. Do not fool yourself. The Cleveland Browns are in full-fledged rebuild mode.
Their roster is barren, with random specs of talent scattered throughout the team. They cut ties with Karlos Dansby, Donte Whitner, Craig Robertson and some former first round pick named Johnny Manziel.
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Their greatest talent, suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon, flunked yet another drug test and his future with the team remains murky at best. It’s safe to say the Cleveland Browns have needs at nearly every position.
Will the Browns trade the pick? Will they pass on a quarterback and go defense? I don’t have answers for either question, but I do know Carson Wentz needs to be the selection at two, if the powers that be prefer a quarterback.
Goff, the other highly touted quarterback prospect, has been called more “NFL ready” than Wentz. So what? Didn’t the Browns just sign Robert Griffin III? I would rather gamble on Wentz’s potential than bank on Goff’s readiness.
The Griffin signing solidified the choice in my mind, but the NFL Draft and Cleveland Browns are never that simple. If Wentz needs time to develop, shouldn’t RG3 be able to play placeholder until the future is ready?
Granted, assumptions are being made here. The Browns have no offensive line, no offensive weapons and succeeding in Cleveland will be an uphill battle for Griffin.
With all that being said, I haven’t read one thing I do not like about Carson Wentz. He is the anti-Manziel, hardworking kind of guy the city of Cleveland will fall in love with.
Kevin Van Valkenburg of ESPN wrote an excellent feature on Wentz, and the preparation for his highly anticipated pro day. The pro day went well, but what stuck out for me was his demeanor and attitude towards the process.
The Browns’ interest was a hot topic of the feature, and Wentz did not shy away. Ryan Lindley, his quarterback mentor, spoke on the subject:
"The Browns have shown more interest than any other team, and they’re planning to send coaches, not just scouts, to watch Wentz’s pro day.“I’m starting to feel like: Screw it, I hope you do go to Cleveland,” Lindley says. “You kick ass there, they’ll put you on their version of Mount Rushmore.”"
His approach is different than Manziel’s “wreck this league” text to Browns’ brass during the 2014 NFL Draft. Wentz actually has the commitment and work ethic to back it up.
Where Manziel was loud, flamboyant and downright obnoxious, Wentz is calm, steady and prepared to put the work in. His response to being selected by the Browns seemed to be one of a determined individual:
"Wentz grins but doesn’t speak. He doesn’t need to. The look on his face is another tell.Hell yeah, it says. Bring it on.He’s a planner, an obsessive scheduler, and each hour he’s awake, he is restless, as if his body and brain are idling in neutral."
Wentz has worked for everything he’s achieved in his athletic career. There were no privileges, guarantees or pampering throughout his growth as a quarterback. That’s no knock on Goff, but Wentz didn’t even have a profile on scouting website Rivals.com coming out of high school.
Wentz won two FCS titles at North Dakota State. He was the starter for only two seasons after sitting behind the incumbent quarterback, broke his wrist last year, and attempted only 612 passes his entire career.
He is the anti-Manziel, hardworking kind of guy the city of Cleveland will fall in love with.
On the other hand, Goff was handed the starting job from day one at Cal and faced superior competition while attempting 1,569 passes during his career. Cal’s “Air Raid” system allowed him to thrive, and do so on a much larger stage than North Dakota State. The Cal program once again achieved relevance with Goff under center.
The obvious choice is Goff, right? Both are strong prospects, but Wentz’s lack of experience and competition force many to lean towards the former Cal Bear.
As Valkenburg noted, selecting Wentz would be risky for the embattled franchise:
"If Wentz ends up being one of the top picks — the Browns have privately told people they’re leaning toward grabbing him — it will represent one of the biggest gambles in the modern era of the draft."
If Wentz’s ceiling is higher than Goff’s, why not gamble on potential? Griffin will be the starter in a quarterback room with Wentz and (hopefully) Josh McCown. This would be an ideal environment for a young, raw talent to develop.
He has a tireless work ethic, athleticism and motivation to prove the doubters wrong. Carson Wentz will be a successful quarterback in the NFL, but for which team remains to be seen.
Next: Browns: Josh Gordon's Petition Is Denied
The choice is clear, but head coach Hue Jackson’s future with the Cleveland Browns depends on it.