Over the last few months leading up to this year's NFL Draft, two quarterbacks have separated themselves from the pack: Cal's Jared Goff and North Dakota State's Carson Wentz. While these two prospects have been busy jumping through hoops at the scouting combine, pro days and pre-draft visits with potentially interested parties, the Cleveland Browns have been busy doing their due diligence on both passers.
The Browns once again find themselves in need of a starting quarterback, despite the free agent signing of Robert Griffin III. Though it's possible RGIII can turn his career around in Cleveland, recent history indicates that it's unlikely. The Browns, with the No. 2 overall pick, have a chance to get a young guy they believe can develop into a franchise passer.
Leading up to this month's draft, the general consensus has been that Cleveland is more interested in Wentz than it is in Goff (though neither is as highly regarded as Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota were last year). Physically, it's easy to see why. Wentz stands 6-foot-5 and 232 pounds. He ran a 4.77 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine. When it comes to being a dual threat mobile QB, Wentz clearly has the advantage. He averaged 42.0 rushing yards per game in 2015 and scored six touchdowns on the ground.
But Goff has long been considered to possess the better football IQ of the two and where he falls short in physical attributes (6-foot-4, 205 pounds, 4.84 40-yard dash), he makes up for with smarts in the pocket. Perhaps that is why sources are telling MMQB's Peter King that he'll be the pick come draft day.
"It's definitely Goff. Believe it," King relayed from a source.
Goff reminds some scouts of Matt Ryan in that he may not be the most physically gifted player at the position, but that he has a quality arm that can make a variety of throws and he maintains focus within the pocket. He'll need some time to adjust to NFL schemes and tempo and he'll have to tweak his footwork, but he's a solid prospect.
Time and time again, NFL teams have been faced with a choice between a physical standout with high upside and big questions marks and a safer choice with a higher floor. The athlete vs. the thinker. We've seen how the athletes have turned out in recent years. Maybe it's time the Browns opt for something different.
Follow Brandon Katz at @Great_Katzby
