The Cleveland Browns are expected to continue their never ending quarterback carousel in the NFL Draft this year, even after they signed Robert Griffin III in free agency. Assuming the Tennessee Titans stay at the top of the draft board, the Browns will have their pick of Cal's Jared Goff and North Dakota State's Carson Wentz with the No. 2 overall pick.
Neither Goff nor Wentz is as highly regarded as Jameis Winston and Marucs Mariota was coming out of college last year, but both prospects have their attractive qualities. Wentz is an impressive athlete with solid running ability and Goff has been praised for his high football IQ. But which passer will Cleveland mark as their franchise QB?
According to a recent report, Cleveland offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton prefers Goff to Wentz.
"And while there is some natural debate as to which of these quarterbacks is best, and some believe the margin is close, sources say Hamilton - hand-picked by new head coach Hue Jackson (a quarterback guru himself), doesn't see it that way at all. His reports have Goff far and away the better candidate."
The report goes on to say that several scouts within the Browns organization believe in Wentz as a quarterback prospect, but the recent firing of six scouts just three weeks before the draft doesn't bode well for his chances. Ultimately, the decision is expected to fall to owner Jimmy Haslam and general manager Sashi Brown, with the input from the highly regarded Hamilton being taken into serious consideration.
It also remains possible (though unexpected) that the Browns bypass the quarterback position altogether and select a highly regarded prospect at another position with the No. 2 pick.
"So, yeah, based on everything I have heard to this point, if the Browns take a quarterback, it's Goff," the report read. "That's not to say that Joey Bosa and DeForest Buckner are entirely out of the equation either, because they aren't."
This all remains an unconfirmed report at the time, but it does make sense. While Wentz may wow scouts with his physical make up (6-foot-5, 235 lbs, 4.77 40-yard dash), it is Goff whose skillset may better translate to the NFL.
Follow Brandon Katz at @Great_Katzby
