The Cleveland Browns are expected to take a quarterback in the upcoming NFL draft, and the team is doing its homework on each of the top prospects. The team met with Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch on Monday, while also bringing in Baylor wide receiver Corey Coleman.
The Browns have already scouted Cal's Jared Goff and North Dakota State's Carson Wentz, who are considered to be the top two quarterbacks in the draft. Head coach Hue Jackson attended the workouts for the players and came away impressed with what he saw. The Browns signed Robert Griffin III to a contract in free agency, but the team is likely going to take a quarterback to develop behind Griffin into next season.
Lynch is considered to be the third-best prospect at the position by most draft scouts, but the Browns are leaving no stone unturned as they prepare for the draft. Lynch has not yet had his pro day, but he is to be an intriguing prospect due to his size at 6-foot-7, 244 pounds. Even though he is ranked behind Goff and Wentz, Lynch could be a target for numerous teams in the draft after passing for 3,778 yards, 28 touchdowns and four interceptions last season.
"He's talented, he's a big guy and we're going to find out more about him," Jackson said.
The Philadelphia Eagles are also doing their due diligence on the position. The team already met with Lynch earlier in the offseason, and now the Eagles are working out Goff in a private session. While the team signed Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel to contracts in free agency, it may still be interested in drafting a young quarterback.
Doug Pederson is taking over as head coach after Chip Kelly and may want to develop a starter for the future. Pederson spoke about the draft last week and said that the team may not go with a quarterback at the number eight pick, but the position is a consideration for the later rounds.
"Oh, I don't know about that," Pederson said. "But I know if you're looking for that third quarterback, then there's some good ones in this draft. Taking out the top three, there's still some guys in there that you can develop that would be good fits as a number three."
With the Titans not looking at quarterbacks for the draft, it leaves the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Eagles and possibly the Dallas Cowboys as teams in the top 10 that could target the position. The Eagles are unlikely to trade up to try and get Goff or Wentz, but that remains a possibility for Pederson. Lynch could be available to the team later in the first round if they consider trading down.
