Russ Lande breaks down his big board and predicts how the top ten picks of will shake out. USA TODAY Sports
Well, now we know one thing for certain.
The Los Angeles Rams – with their blockbuster trade with the Titans to acquire the No. 1 overall selection in the NFL draft – will be taking a quarterback with that pick April 28.
But what does that mean for the rest of the Top 10?
It means that North Dakota State's Carson Wentz and Cal's Jared Goff, the top two available passing prospects, almost certainly go one and two.
The Rams just have to figure which player they like best, if they haven't already. That leaves the rest of the NFL watching – and reacting to – Los Angeles' choice.
The Browns war room in Berea, Ohio suddenly becomes the most interesting place in the NFL.
Because Cleveland has a very clear need for a quarterback after releasing 2014 first-round pick Johnny Manziel, the expectation has been that the Browns would address the position in the draft.
But what if the Rams select the quarterback Cleveland likes best? Do they address a defensive need or do they try to swing a deal – and acquire more picks.
The Browns now have a lot of leverage – and the motivation – to make a deal.
The 49ers (No. 7), the Eagles (No. 8) – and to a lesser extent – the Dallas Cowboys (No. 4) all need quarterbacks, and their draft position makes a possible trade with the Browns very feasible.
With new head coaches Doug Peterson in Philadelphia and Chip Kelly in San Francisco, securing a long-term solution at quarterback is essential. Whomever the Rams don't take, could be that option with a trade.
First things first, those teams would need to craft a package appealing enough for the Browns to move out of No. 2.
Cleveland's signing of Robert Griffin III this offseason gives the franchise a bridge option in the short term. Despite his recent struggles, Griffin was the No. 2 overall selection in 2012, thanks to his superb athleticism and ability to make plays out of the pocket.
But it may not matter.
The Rams could draft the quarterback the Browns likes least out of Wentz and Goff, leaving Cleveland's preferred option sitting at No. 2.
Or, Cleveland could value both players fairly similarly and could be fine with either selection.
But it's safe to say that for teams who need a quarterback – the Eagles and 49ers, especially – the potential price to move into the No. 2 spot likely just went up.
It's supply and demand. Wentz and Goff are widely considered the best passers, and with one of them off the board at No. 1, that second pick becomes extremely valuable.
The biggest winners of the trade, however, may not have anything to do with quarterbacks.
This draft class is generally considered to be quite strong on defense, with players like Florida State safety Jalen Ramsey, Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa, UCLA linebacker Myles Jack and Oregon defensive tackle DeForest Buckner highlighting the group. Teams in the Top 10 targeting one of these players are now in a good spot to take one of them.
One other thing Los Angeles' trade for the No. 1 selection likely means is that Memphis' Paxton Lynch, generally considered to be the third-best passer available in the draft, could shoot up the board.
The NFL is a quarterback league, after all – and if Wentz and Goff are gone after the first two picks – it just makes Lynch that much more appealing.
Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes [1]
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References
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Source → Cleveland Browns now hold the key to how the top of the draft plays out
