Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney don’t always see eye to eye. In this edition of Rival Views, the two debate who they would take No. 1 overall if they were running the Browns.
FARRELL'S VIEW: PENN STATE RB SAQUON BARKLEY
I’d take the safe pick and draft Penn State running back Saquon Barkley. The argument against taking a running back No. 1 is they don’t last that long, durability issues eventually pop up and they're just one injury away from never being the same again. Yet, I view Barkley as safe of a running back pick since Adrian Peterson years ago.
With the Browns holding the No. 4 pick as well in the draft, they can address quarterback then and land any one of Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen or Baker Mayfield. But if they pass on Barkley at No. 1, there is no way he’s going to be there for them at No. 4.
I’d take Barkley and then roll the dice on a quarterback after that. That's an easy decision.
GORNEY'S VIEW: UCLA QB JOSH ROSEN
Cleveland traded for quarterback Tyrod Taylor over the weekend, but he's not the long-term answer as the Browns try to - once again - rebuild their franchise. The most talented quarterback in this draft is UCLA's Josh Rosen and I would take him with the first pick.
There is absolutely a valid argument to take Penn State RB Saquon Barkley with the first pick and then figure out quarterback at No. 4, I can definitely buy that rationale, but if the New York Giants want a quarterback at No. 2, Rosen might be off the board by four. When UCLA played USC last season, it was clear Rosen was better than Sam Darnold, so Rosen should be No. 1 off the board.
Every quarterback in this draft has some sort of issue. Darnold has turned the ball over too much. Wyoming's Josh Allen has a low completion percentage and has played poorly against top competition. Baker Mayfield has off-field concerns. Rosen can be difficult at times but I just don't buy he isn't a good teammate and he cannot be coached. If the right coaching staff gets Rosen and he buys in, he's the most special QB in this class.
