Cleveland Browns pull two surprises as first round of NFL Draft completes at Cowboys Stadium

THE Cleveland Browns have been the worst team in football for years, so it’s no surprise they were booed mercilessly at the draft.

• NFL Draft: Pick by pick

Live: NFL Draft

Five quarterbacks were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in Arlington, Texas.

THIS year’s NFL draft was deep at the position teams value most — quarterback — but it lacked one thing: a consensus top pick.

Hence the huge surprise when the Cleveland Browns selected Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield with the No. 1 pick.

It’s not that Mayfield came from way out in left-field, it’s just that there were so many other viable options — headed by USC’s Sam Darnold, Wyoming’s Josh Allen and UCLA’s Josh Rosen — no one completely saw it coming.

The Browns did a masterful job of keeping their intentions hidden before grabbing the first Heisman Trophy winner taken No. 1 overall in the following draft since Cam Newton went to Carolina in 2010. Mayfield joins a team that went 0-16 in 2017.

The New York Giants selected running back Saquon Barkley at pick two, leaving the New York Jets to grab Darnold at pick three before the Bills (Allen) and Cardinals (Rosen) traded up to grab their quarterbacks of the future.

Cardinals and Jets have to be doing freaking cartwheels. Darnold and Rosen FALL into their laps. Wow.

— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) April 27, 2018

But that wasn’t the Browns’ only shock move.

Despite star talents like North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb and Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson still on the board, they selected Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward with the fourth pick.

It was such a stunner ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell wondered if Cleveland’s phone lines were down.

It’s hard to believe that the Browns couldn’t have traded down and still grabbed Denzel Ward. Really hard to believe. Like maybe their phone lines are down.

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) April 27, 2018

Browns fans couldn’t help but think back to the last time they selected a quarterback and corner and the first round of the draft.

Back in 2014 they selected Justin Gilbert (eighth) and Johnny Manziel (22nd). Both have suffered from substance abuse problems and are no longer in the league.

Last time Browns took a short QB & a CB in 1st round was 2014, and ... never mind.

— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) April 27, 2018

1.30pm

NFL Draft: Pick by pick

Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield is the No. 1 pick.(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

1. Cleveland Browns — Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

One of the most polarising players in the draft class went number one. Baker Mayfield will be tasked with turning around the perennial underperformer after the Browns pulled a surprise.

2. New York Giants — Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

The Giants picked the man many consider the best overall talent in the draft. Barkley has been compared to Adrian Petersen and should be a decade-long solution at running back.

3. New York Jets — Sam Darnold, QB, USC

Perhaps the most complete quarterback in the class is going to another franchise that hasn’t had a decent man behind centre in years. Will the Jets decision to trade up for this pick pay off?

4. Cleveland Browns — Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

The Browns raised eyebrows again by selecting home state star Denzel Ward to shore up their secondary. It was automatically graded as a reach.

5. Denver Broncos — Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State

The Broncos’ pass rush is going to be legit next season after they selected the best defensive prospect in the draft. Bradley Chubb and Von Miller will be a nightmare for offensive lineman and quarterbacks.

6. Indianapolis Colts — Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame

The Colts can pencil Nelson in to the offensive line for game one of the season. He’s that good. Good enough to become just the third offensive lineman in Notre Dame history to win the team’s MVP.

7. Buffalo Bills (via Tampa Bay) — Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

Allen experienced a rough 24 hours after racist tweets from years ago were unearthed on the draft’s eve. But he has a new home in Buffalo after the Bills traded up on draft day to secure the quarterback.

8. Chicago Bears — Roquan Smith, OLB, Georgia

Chicago plugged in a talented athlete, leader and tackling machine at linebacker. Smith would have been a nice fit on the ‘85 Bears.

9. San Francisco 49ers — Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

The 49ers finally settled their quarterback position with Jimmy Garoppolo. Now they’ve set about protecting him with McGlinchey. That’s two offensive lineman in the top 10 for Notre Dame.

10. Arizona Cardinals (via Oakland) — Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

The Cardinals needed a quarterback and traded up to move ahead of the Dolphins and select UCLA’s Rosen — the last of the big four prospects on the board today.

Josh Rosen.

11. Miami Dolphins — Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama

The Alabama defence has been supplying first round picks for years and Fitzpatrick becomes the latest after a standout career with the Roll Tide. He should be a starter this season.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via Buffalo) — Vita Vea, DT, Washington

Vea has been compared to Haloti Ngata and the Bucs will be hoping he can match his performance in college, where he tallied 12 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in the past two seasons.

13. Washington Redskins — Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

The Redskins filled a major position of need by adding Payne to its defensive line.

14. New Orleans Saints (via Green Bay) — Marcus Davenport, DE, UT San Antonio

The Saints wanted Davenport so bad they handed over this year’s and next year’s first round picks to the Packers. He’s a great athlete but was he worth the haul?

15. Oakland Raiders (via Arizona) — Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

The Raiders will protect Derek Carr’s blindside with 203cm Bruins big boy Kolton Miller.

16. Buffalo Bills (via Baltimore) — Tremaine Edmunds, OLB, Virginia Tech

The Bills moved up for the second time in the draft to grab a player some thought would have been a top 10 pick. Edmunds is only 19 but can make an immediate impact.

17. Los Angeles Chargers — Derwin James, S, Florida State

James was rated the best safety in the draft but endured a long wait before being picked up by the Chargers.

18. Green Bay Packers (via Seattle) — Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

After trading down in a deal with the Saints, the Packers moved back up to beef up their secondary.

19. Dallas Cowboys — Leighton Vander Esch, ILB, Boise State

Vander Esch comes from Riggins, Idaho, a town of 419 people. He’ll play under the biggest spotlight in American sport.

20. Detroit Lions — Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas

The Lions have put the finishing touches on their offensive line by selecting Ragnow, who can play multiple positions.

Boise State's Leighton Vander Esch became a Cowboy in Cowboys Stadium. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

21. Cincinnati Bengals — Billy Price, C, Ohio State

The Bengals joined the Browns in adding hometown talent as they begin rebuilding their offensive line.

22. Tennessee Titans (via Baltimore, Buffalo) — Rashaan Evans, ILB, Alabama

The Titans moved up to grab the third player from Alabama’s defence selected in the first round. Evans starred in playoff games against Clemson and Georgia.

23. New England Patriots — Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia

Some thought the Pats may look for Tom Brady’s long-term replacement with this pick after trading Jimmy G to the 49ers. But they opted for the sixth offensive lineman of the draft.

24. Carolina Panthers — DJ Moore, WR, Maryland

Moore became the first wide receiver selected in this year’s draft and is tipped to become a reliable target for Cam Newton.

25. Baltimore Ravens (via Tennessee) — Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina

The former baseballer and best tight end in the draft heads to Baltimore where he’s expected to become an every-down player.

26. Atlanta Falcons — Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

A player most considered the best receiver in the draft will team up with another former Alabama player in Julio Jones at Atlanta. Matt Ryan has some weapons.

27. Seattle Seahawks (via Green Bay, New Orleans) — Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State

New Beastmode? The ‘Hawks will hope so after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers — Terrell Edmunds, S, Virginia Tech

In an emotional moment, Ryan Shazier — the Steelers linebacker who was temporarily wheelchair-bound after a nasty injury last season — walked across the stage to announce Pittsburgh’s pick.

Chills.

Ryan Shazier walks out and announces the Steelers pick.#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/yRNSxzhTOO

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 27, 2018

Terrell Edmunds joined brother Tremaine (Buffalo, pick 16) in the first round. Their old man played in the league too. What a story.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars — Taven Bryan, DT, Florida

Bryan exploded on to the scene at Florida in his junior year and has been compared to the Eagles’ Fletcher Cox.

30. Minnesota Vikings — Mike Hughes, CB, UCF

Minnesota added one of the best corners in the draft to one of the NFL’s best secondaries.

31. New England Patriots — Sony Michel, RB, Georgia

Two Bulldogs for Bill Belichick as he adds college football playoffs standout Michel to the earlier selection of Isaiah Wynn.

32. Baltimore Ravens (via Philadelphia) — Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

The Super Bowl champs traded out of the first round as Baltimore ended Lamar Jackson’s suffering by selecting the quarterback as a long-term replacement for Joe Flacco.

Players still available for Friday’s draft include Mason Rudolph, Derrius Guice, Anthony Miller, DJ Chark, Courtland Sutton, Dallas Goedert, Harold Landry, Connor Williams, Sam Hubbard, Maurice Hurst, Josh Jackson, Isaiah Oliver.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 27, 2018

12pm

Steelers ship out Bryant

Martavis Bryant was involved in a draft-day trade.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded enigmatic wide receiver Martavis Bryant to the Oakland Raiders.

The Steelers will receive Oakland’s third-round pick in exchange for Bryant, who showed flashes of brilliance in three seasons with Pittsburgh but also regularly ran afoul of the league’s substance abuse policy.

Bryant caught 17 touchdowns in 36 games for the Steelers, but was suspended twice for drug violations. He missed four games in 2015 and all of the 2016 season.

Bryant returned last spring but was quickly surpassed by JuJu Smith-Schuster on the depth chart. He asked for a trade in late September and was deactivated for a game after calling out Smith-Schuster in a post on social media.

The 194cm Bryant has the size and speed to give Oakland quarterback Derek Carr a serious downfield threat. Bryant averaged 15.3 yards per reception with the Steelers.

Raiders’ WRs: Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson, Martavis Bryant.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 27, 2018

— AP

Originally published as Cleveland Browns pull two surprises as first round of NFL Draft completes at Cowboys Stadium