Robert Griffin III

Why the Cleveland Browns hold the NFL Draft's most important pick

Published Apr. 13, 2016 1:20 p.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

Here is something Cleveland fans have heard all too often in recent years: The Browns are picking in the top 10. Since 2010, they've done so four times, whiffing on all of them aside from stud cornerback Joe Haden. Trent Richardson was a bust. Barkevious Mingo has seven career sacks. Justin Gilbert can't get on the field and has made just three starts in two seasons.

That's, well, not good.

Will 2016 bring better fortune when the Browns go on the clock with the second overall pick? They're certainly in position to take an immediate-impact player. Yet, the selection isn't just important for Cleveland -- it's the most important pick in the draft.

Just like in years past, the Browns have been linked to the top quarterback prospects: Jared Goff and Carson Wentz. The Browns are reportedly very interested in both players, though the "leader" between the two is still unknown. Regardless, their interest comes as no surprise, despite the fact that Cleveland signed Robert Griffin III recently. While taking a quarterback at No. 2 is the likely play, it's not the only one. And that's why it's the selection everyone will be watching.

There are several scenarios that could play out come April 28, all of which will impact the rest of the first round. Here are the possibilities:

This is the most likely scenario. The Browns desperately need a franchise quarterback after starting 24 different players at the position since 1999. If Cleveland does nab Wentz or Goff here, teams like the Chargers, Cowboys and Jaguars will be salivating from their theoretical mouths. Assuming Laremy Tunsil goes No. 1 to the Titans, this scenario would leave the Chargers with all of the top defenders still on the board -- including Jalen Ramsey and DeForest Buckner. This would be an ideal situation for both San Diego and Dallas, the latter of which will likely opt for a defender over Tony Romo's successor. This scenario would hurt the 49ers and Eagles, however. Both teams could be in the market for a rookie quarterback, and with one of the top two off the board, the likelihood of another falling to No. 7 or 8 drops significantly.

Here's where things get interesting. It's possible that Cleveland rolls into the season with RG3 at quarterback and decides to bulk up its defense -- specifically the secondary. Ramsey could very well be the best player in the draft, and the Browns could desperately use a playmaker on the backend. In this situation, the Chargers miss out on Eric Weddle's replacement, but the value of their pick goes way up. Teams like the 49ers at seven and the Eagles at eight will be looking to move up to snatch a quarterback before the Cowboys go on the clock. Heck, the Rams at 15 could be looking to do the same. The Chargers won't get a king's ransom, but the return on a possible trade would be massive. Slipping quarterbacks drive up value, and the Chargers could benefit greatly.

Recent reports suggest the Eagles are "in love with" Ezekiel Elliott and are prepared to take him at No. 8 if a quarterback doesn't fall to them. But what if Philly wants to ensure it lands the draft's top running back and trades up to No. 2? It could happen, and the front office has showed it isn't afraid to make a deal. If the Eagles were to make a move of this magnitude, the Browns would be able to rebuild on both sides of the ball, with Philadelphia likely sending Cleveland next year's first rounder in addition to its first- and second-round picks, plus a later selection. More important, the Browns could still potentially land one of the two best quarterbacks at No. 8, with Paxton Lynch being a backup plan.

The Titans have showed obvious interest in Ramsey in addition to Tunsil. The latter is the favorite to go No. 1, but Ramsey is still in play for Tennessee. If the Titans take their hometown kid in Ramsey, Cleveland would be hard-pressed not to take Tunsil next. Of course, they still have Joe Thomas, but he's 31 years old and not getting any younger. Tunsil could step in at right tackle and make an immediate impact. And as for the draft, it makes a trade-out by San Diego more likely. The Chargers are one of two teams in the top four that won't be taking a quarterback, which is a near certainty. Look for a quarterback-needy team to come up in this situation.