CLEVELAND -- For almost the entirety of the draft process, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has forecasted Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen to be the No. 1 overall pick of the Cleveland Browns.
That was until Thursday.
Hours away from the start of the draft, a new front-runner has emerged for Cleveland's top pick. Early on Thursday morning, Kiper's ESPN colleague, Adam Schefter reported that head coaches and general managers around the league now believe it will be Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield whose name is called by the Browns at the top of the draft -- and the betting odds have since followed suit.
One of the foremost authorities in the draft world, Kiper seems to agree. In his most recent -- and final -- mock draft, the ESPN analyst switched his pick, pegging Mayfield to the Browns with the No. 1 pick.
"You heard it from ESPN's Adam Schefter this morning. Baker to Cleveland is all the talk," Kiper wrote. "Josh Allen isn't helped by the offensive tweets that surfaced overnight. Mayfield could be ready to compete with Tyrod Taylor immediately."
That last part, in particular, is interesting.
When the Browns acquired Taylor from the Buffalo Bills in March, the idea was that the rookie quarterback Cleveland would draft would sit behind him for at least a year. That sentiment was backed up by comments made by Browns head coach Hue Jackson and general manager John Dorsey in the days that have followed.
Mayfield seems to be the most pro-ready of this year's quarterback crop and at 23-years-old, it seems unlikely the Browns would want to sit him for very long.
Perhaps that will be proven wrong or maybe he won't even be the pick for Cleveland in the end. We'll finally know once and for all in just a few hours.
