Cleveland Browns: Fictional comparisons for top QB draft prospects

A break is needed when it comes to comparing which quarterback the Cleveland Browns could end up drafting.

Plenty of Cleveland Browns quarterbacks have played like fictional characters who were bad players in movies over the years. From Brady Quinn to Johnny Manziel and everyone in between, it is time for a change.

With just a few weeks left until another collegiate quarterback is added, let’s take an unconventional approach with the comparisons.

After all, once and awhile it is good to look at what some of the top quarterbacks’ comparisons are to fictional movie characters right? That means no Matthew Stafford, Tony Romo, Doug Flutie, etc comparisons for a little bit of time. Whether it is character skill-set or characteristics of the character, the top QBs are covered.

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Josh Rosen is Any Given Sunday‘s Jack “Cap” Rooney:

There is a lot to like about Rosen heading into this draft. He’s going to be a top-five pick. When at UCLA, Rosen showed he has arguably the best arm in the draft. However, Rosen has a ceiling to reach but it is not as high as other. In other words, NFL teams are going to get what they see.

One problem of Rosen was that he did not always move around in the pocket as much as he could have. Rosen has injury concerns especially concussion related. A long-term career could potentially be negatively impacted if he doesn’t always have a top line in front of him.

Rooney in the pros was like how Rosen was in college. Both of them were great veteran quarterbacks at their respective level of competition. The way Any Given Sunday is laid out gives the feeling that Rooney had a long, successful career but injuries got in the way.

Baker Mayfield is The Replacements’ Shane Falco:

Falco was not given the opportunity in the pros until replacements were needed. Even then there were those that did not want him as the starting quarterback. Falco was a true underdog as no expected him to lead his replacement team and achieve what they did. Although it was just a small sample, it would have made sense for some team to be interested in him via free agency right? Right.

Mayfield was a walk-on when he began his collegiate career. Mayfield also started at both Texas Tech and Oklahoma and won this past season’s Heisman Trophy award. Some of Mayfield’s actions on the field may not be to that of what we typically see, but his teammates embraced it and fed off his energy. As long as Mayfield continues to have that walk-on kind of mentality in the pros, he should quite well for himself.

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Lamar Jackson is Any Given Sunday‘s Willie Beamen:

Jackson won the Heisman Trophy and was successful at Louisville because of his legs. Jackson’s ability to split defenders downfield whether on designed runs or after seeing his reads were not open helped made him the player he is. Jackson’s passing ability continue to improve which is a good thing for NFL teams. Yes, even those that want him to play wide receiver.

Beamen struggled early on in the passing game as he relied on his legs and a great running game to win. Over time, he also showed the necessary passing progress coaches like to see. Beamen showed he could be a franchise quarterback.

Jackson is not being mentioned as an early pick because of the WR factor and his struggles throwing some routes despite the progress he made. Maybe Jackson proves many wrong in a couple of years if and when he goes late in round one.

Sam Darnold is a hybrid of Falco, The Longest Yard‘s Paul Crewe (Adam Sandler version), and The Program’s Joe Kane:

At USC, Darnold wasn’t seen being too high or too low in regards his emotions and leadership. Quietly he led the Trojans’ but I am sure that was not the case while in the huddle and where cameras did not have access to. Like Darnold, Falco’s emotions did not sway too much as he led more by his play rather than actions.

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Darnold can make the throws needed to win (and extend plays on the ground as needed) but the way he releases the football and his passing mechanics are similar to Crewe. Crewe made plays however it required. Whether it was him extending the play or rushing for first downs, Crewe had an answer.

His ability to throw into tough windows down the stretch is also noticable, something Darnold is improving on. Kane’s on-field competitiveness was something players could only wish they could have. Kane would have wanted to beat 100-0 just as much as he’d want to win on a game-winning touchdown passs. Among other examples, Darnold’s latest of that characteristic was wanting to throw in his pro day while it was raining showing NFL personnel he can throw through bad weather as he made his case of becoming the top pick.

Josh Allen is Napoleon Dynamite‘s Uncle Rico:

I know, a perfect fit right? This is to showcase why his flaws are subject to such scrutiny. If it weren’t for Allen’s major flaws, he’d be a top two pick.

While there has been speculation that Allen could go first, I’m not buying it at all. Eventually there will be an exception to the rule, but as much as Allen looks like he could be a legit NFL quarterback, his tape says the opposite. I hope Allen proves people wrong because he did show signs of potential.

However, combining the fact that he missed wide receivers on easy throws often (sometimes to his fault, but other times his guys just dropped the ball) and his completion percentage decreasing yearly, that’s enough for teams to pass on the Wyoming QB.

Next: There's not a bad choice at four

As far as Uncle Rico is concerned, the scene of him throwing footballs in the middle of nowhere landing in different spots is all you need to know about the accuracy he displays and how that relates to Allen.

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