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2017 NFL Draft: Why Mitch Trubisky Is Worthy Of No. 1 Overall Pick

By Nick Dudukovich

Sep 12, 2015; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) runs in for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the North Carolina A&T Aggies at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The Tar Heels defeated North Carolina A&T Aggies 53-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2015; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) runs in for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the North Carolina A&T Aggies at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The Tar Heels defeated North Carolina A&T Aggies 53-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cleveland Browns have been looking for a franchise quarterback since Bill Belichick cut Bernie Kosar, so I talked myself into taking one No. 1 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. His name is Mitch Trubisky. You should too talk yourself into it, too.

You’re not really going to try to sell the idea that Mitch Trubisky should be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, are you?

Yep. I can’t take it anymore. This isn’t hard. Unless you have a quarterback, you’re going nowhere!

But everyone with a  computer and a big board says Trubisky is at best, a mid-first-round pick, and at the worst, an early second-round selection.

That’s fine. Take your defensive end, who by the way, isn’t a lock to be great either, and see what happens.

Whoa, why no love for Myles Garrett? Did his video pleading with Jerry Jones to trade up for him leave you feeling salty?

No, that’s got nothing to do with it. If I had a decent quarterback, even an Andy Dalton type, I’d take Garrett faster than Jimmy Haslam changes regimes.

Then why are you going to reach for Trubisky?

Because, maybe, just maybe, he’s not such a reach. NFL general mangers believe the kid is a “top 5 lock.” Not sure if you’ve been watching Browns football for the better part of this century, but sounds like that would probably be a good investment.

And if you don’t want listen to the words of men paid to evaluate NFL talent, you can certainly check in with Internet sheriffs such as myself. Every mock draft published nowadays seems to have Trubisky going No. 2 to the 49ers, or No. 3 to the Bears.

I’m just sitting here like, “Wait a minute, if he’s that good, shouldn’t the Browns do themselves a favor and take him!?”

Those teams don’t have the ability to draft a freak athlete like Garrett though. 

True, but who won that AFC Divisional playoff game last month? The freak athlete Jadeveon Clowney–who finally blossomed in his third season–and his marginal NFL starter, or the classic drop back passer (who just so happens to be the GOAT) with good players all over the defensive line?

Yep. We know how that turned out. Tom Brady has five rings.

The final four contenders for the Super Bowl were classic drop back passers. All were first round picks, with the exception Brady.

It’s a point, but it’s still not a reason to bypass Garrett. 

Look, if you’re going to lose, lose big. My Browns fandom can’t take seeing a local kid who played his high school championship games at FirstEnergy Stadium go elsewhere and succeed, knowing the Browns could have had him! Trubisky is 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. His body was made for AFC North football.

But just one year as a starter…

Yes, he’s got a lot to learn having started just one year at UNC. That means it’s on the Browns, and QB guru Hue Jackson to develop him into a great starter. If that means sitting him a year, that means Cleveland has to find someone who can start, and not get hurt.

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Plus, I like the idea of Jackson developing a guy he’s given. Look at Andy Dalton and A.J. McCarron. He had nothing to do with their selections. He developed Dalton into a playoff caliber quarterback. Many think McCarron can be great once given the chance to start.

The obvious comparison for Trubisky’s inexperience is Carson Wentz, who started 23 games at North Dakota State where he was 392-of-612 passing. Trubisky was 386-of-572 at UNC.

Analytics won’t be kind to Trubisky because of the small sample size.

But Trubisky’s inexperience shouldn’t be a reason to bypass him. Just look at Carson Wentz. By the time the combine concluded, coaches and personnel execs knew he was going to be a top-two lock.

Next: 8 Free Agents The Browns Should Target

This isn’t hard, Cleveland. The Browns need a quarterback. One’s there for the taking. Don’t blow it.

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