The 2018 NFL Scouting Combine begins next week and the 2018 NFL Draft is about two months away. We are inching closer and closer to one of the biggest events of the Cleveland Browns organization since 1999.

We at WFNY have been getting you ready for the NFL Draft with our early glance of each position in the draft. WFNY’s Joe Gilbert and Jake Burns finished examining the defensive side of the ball last week. Today, the duo looks at the final position group of the series, the quarterback position.

Gilbert and Burns will give their top five quarterbacks in the class and their overall thoughts on the quarterback class in the 2018 NFL Draft. So, here is an early glance at the 2018 quarterback class for the upcoming draft.

2018 NFL Draft Early Glance Series: Running back, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Offensive Tackle, Offensive Guard/Center, Interior Defensive Line, Edge Rusher, Linebacker, Cornerback, Safety

Joe Gilbert’s Top 5 QBs Jake Burns’ Top 5 QBs 1a. Josh Rosen, UCLA 1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma 1b. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma 2. Josh Rosen, UCLA 3. Sam Darnold, USC 3. Lamar Jackson, Louisville 4. Lamar Jackson, Louisville 4. Sam Darnold, USC 5. Mike White, Western Kentucky 5. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State

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Best of the Rest: Josh Allen (Wyoming), Luke Falk (Washington State), Kurt Benkert (Virginia), Kyle Lauletta (Richmond), Riley Ferguson (Memphis), Tanner Lee (Nebraska), and Quinton Flowers (South Florida).

Which quarterback do you feel stronger about than most people?

Joe: I feel stronger about Mike White of Western Kentucky than most people. I believe he is a top-five quarterback in this class. He is an accurate thrower to all levels of the field with good ball placement to allow his pass catchers to run after the catch. He has a strong arm with the ability to fire the ball with great velocity. His ability to threaten the defense at all levels of the field is a quality I believe can make him an NFL quarterback.

Jake: Over the course of his career, I have been up and down on Lamar Jackson. But this year when studied his game tape, each week he improved. You mix the weekly improvement with his year to year improvement and you have a truly elite prospect. There has been a notion of switching Jackson to a wide receiver in the draft build-up, but that assertion is being made by those who fail to study him. Jackson has shown the ability to sit in the pocket, consistently get his footwork and base right, drive throws to all levels of the field, and play within a pro-style offense. His running attack comes within the Louisville scheme, and we he gets to flash that tool, it’s breathtaking. I firmly believe Lamar Jackson is not receiving the hype he should be, and he will be a really gifted professional quarterback.

Who is your No. 1 quarterback in the class and why do you believe he is the best quarterback?

Joe: I cannot find a separation between Josh Rosen of UCLA and Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma, so I have Rosen and Mayfield tied for my No. 1 quarterback spot. I think both players are technically sound with the footwork and throwing mechanics of an NFL quarterback. Both players have above average to great level arm talent. They both can make every throw on the field. Rosen is stronger in throws from 10-19 yards, while Mayfield is stronger at 20+ yards throws. But, both players are adequate or good at throwing to all levels of the field. They both have the ability to show touch on passes, while in other situations throwing a fastball to fit the pass into tight windows. Accuracy and ball placement are both strengths for Rosen and Mayfield. In my opinion, these two are ahead of the rest of the class by a good margin.

Jake: Over the course of the year I have tried my best to avoid pegging Baker Mayfield as this class’s top quarterback prospect. The off-field issues don’t miss me, and his pattern of behavior will rub some folks the wrong way. But what Mayfield does on the field and in the locker room is what separates him. He is the NCAA’s most efficient passer in history and it shows itself in the tape regularly. He will have some adjustments to make in the pro game, specifically handling blitzes in front of his face, but his ability to adapt, make throws from all arm angles, make correct ball placement and function within the pocket is rivaled only by Josh Rosen. Mayfield’s NFL success or failure will boil down to his elite anticipation translating, as all of his other tools are at the top of this class.

What are your thoughts on the overall quarterback class? How would you rate the class?

Joe: This quarterback class is one of the best classes of quarterbacks to come out in many years. As I said earlier, Rosen and Mayfield lead the group as the top elite talent of the class. But, beyond them, Sam Darnold, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen all have elite physical skills who need time to develop their game and hone those skill sets in. Each of them has the potential to play in the NFL. And as I said earlier, Mike White can be a quarterback in the league. Compared to last season’s class, this class is a couple steps above. Rosen and Mayfield would have been my No. 1 quarterbacks last year. This year has a much deeper class with at least seven quarterbacks who have the physical talent or skill set to possibly be a quarterback in the NFL.

Jake: I find myself thinking along the same lines as Joe here. This is one of the better classes in recent memory. The top four in this group are extremely good prospects. I think it has two ‘ready now’ prospects in Mayfield and Rosen, and two development players in Jackson and Sam Darnold who can be dynamic NFL quarterbacks down the line. The talent at the next tier: Mason Rudolph, Mike White, Kurt Benkert, and Kyle Lauletta all have a shot to make some noise in the NFL if they get selected by the right franchise.

Who has the best single skill set and what is that skill set?

Joe: I believe the best skill set in the class is Josh Rosen’s passing from 10-19 yards. The statistics back up the tape on this skill set. According to Draft Centric’s Ian Wharton, in throws in the range of 11-19 yards, Rosen threw a catchable pass 76% of the time. Wharton states that this is the best mark of the 50 quarterbacks he has charted since 2012. His ability to throw passes in tight windows and with great ball placement to allow the pass catcher to run after the catch is extraordinary. He is proficient in throwing to the middle of the field and the sidelines in this zone. It is his best skill set as a quarterback.

Jake: It’s tough here because this isn’t necessarily a quarterback trait, but Lamar Jackson’s running ability is truly remarkable. Don’t get me wrong, he can sit in and throw it, but when he decides to run the ball, whether schemed or off a broken play, it is something we haven’t seen since Michael Vick. He eats yards like a burner wide receiver with an effortless long stride and makes people miss like with stop and start similar to a running back. This guy is bringing you the skills of an elite running back, mixed with quality quarterbacking ability. I think I just talked myself into Lamar Jackson?

Who is a sleeper quarterback who you are keeping an eye on?

Joe: I think Mike White of Western Kentucky is a sleeper. Even though I am higher on him, most do not have as high of an opinion as I do. Fellow small school quarterback Josh Allen, because of Allen’s great size and immense arm strength, often overshadows White. But, in my opinion, White is better than Allen. He is more consistent than Allen and has the arm strength to wag your finger at. He is definitely a quarterback to keep an eye on.

Jake: My sleeper is Kurt Benkert from Virginia. He had a sound week in Mobile during the Senior Bowl and has started to generate some real buzz. He is built similar to Aaron Rodgers although not at the same level athletically. He has the ability to use his legs to extend plays and throws a nice ball on the run. He will have to improve his processing as he works in the NFL, but his natural throwing ability–most specifically his deep ball–are already qualified. Add in his ability to throw well off different bases and you have a prospect worth spending a middle round pick on.

What is the impact of this quarterback class to the Browns?

Joe: The Browns will be taking a quarterback with the No. 1 pick, so this class of quarterbacks is huge for the future of the organization. I would be elated with either Rosen or Mayfield with that No. 1 pick. I think the Browns cannot go wrong with either of those two. I can see why the team would go with Sam Darnold because he flashes elite talent at times. Those are three quarterbacks I see the Browns taking at No. 1. I prefer Rosen and Mayfield, but would not be devastated if they choose Darnold. I do not see the Browns including Lamar Jackson in the discussion, but his talent intrigues me so much. However, if they take Josh Allen, pray for me. He should not get one second of the discussion for the No. 1 pick. The Browns are in a great position to finally find their franchise quarterback.

Jake: As Joe mentioned, the Browns absolutely should take a quarterback at No. 1. Now, will they? We don’t know. I think the odds are that they will do just that and the pick seems to be between Josh Rosen or Same Darnold as they are viewed as the safest overall selections. Now, I can get behind any plan centered on those first four guys, but the choices are what they are here, and the Browns will likely pick between Rosen or Darnold. The veteran they bring in alongside the choice will be very interesting, to say the least.

Baker Mayfield Highlights



Josh Rosen Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9xDIb1N2LI

Lamar Jackson Highlights



Sam Darnold Highlights



Mike White Highlights



Mason Rudolph Highlights

