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Cleveland Browns should select QB Josh Allen, RB Saquon Barkley in first round of 2018 NFL Draft

The Cleveland Browns should select quarteback Josh Allen and running back Saquon Barkley in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Credit: Brian Losness
Wyoming Cowboys quarterback Josh Allen drops back to throw a pass against the Boise State Broncos.

CLEVELAND -- The quarterback of the future and an immediate impact player.

Above all else, the Cleveland Browns need to use the Nos. 1 and 4 selections to get their quarterback of the future, and because the signal-caller will, more than likely, sit out the 2018 season while learning from veterans Tyrod Taylor and Drew Stanton, the organization needs to find the most impactful player they can with their second first-round choice.

What to do at No. 1?

The debate has raged for months since quarterbacks Josh Allen and Sam Darnold declared for the 2018 NFL Draft, and while the prior had a lower completion percentage in college, the latter led the nation in turnovers and has only played the position since his senior year of high school.

Because the Browns play next to Lake Erie, they need a big-armed quarterback with the ability to hang onto the ball, and with the turnover factor being the tiebreaker, they should select Allen with the No. 1 overall pick.

In three years at the University of Wyoming, the 6-foot-5, 233-pound Allen completed only 335 of his 649 attempts (51.67 percent), but still threw for 5,066 yards and 44 touchdowns against 21 interceptions.

Credit: John David Mercer
Former University of Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen hustles down the field after escaping the pocket during the 2018 Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.

READ: NFL Draft Preview: Six quarterbacks could be selected in the first round

Considered a raw prospect with the biggest arm in the draft, Allen shined at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine, where, among the quarterbacks, he posted the third-fastest time in the 40-yard dash (4.75 seconds), along with the best vertical (33.5 inches) and broad jumps (119.0 inches).

Darnold elected not to participate in most of the drills at the Combine, instead choosing to work out only at USC Pro Day and in visits to the teams.

Josh Allen let it fly at his pro day today in Wyoming. pic.twitter.com/U0AyMiNRlv

โ€” ESPN (@espn) March 23, 2018

And what about No. 4?

Depending upon what the New York Giants do at No. 2, the Browns could get either the most talented running back or most consistent pass-rushing defensive end in the 2018 NFL Draft.

If the Giants select Josh Rosen, that would create a scenario where quarterbacks will come off the board with each of the first three picks because the New York Jets would not have traded up to No. 3 without taking a signal-caller.

Should the Giants go with defensive end Bradley Chubb, which is likely after trading Jason Pierre-Paul to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason, the Browns are in prime position to get the most explosive running back prospect in years, Penn Stateโ€™s Saquon Barkley.

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas
Penn State running back Saquon Barkley hustles up the field and into the end zone against the Washington Huskies in the Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

READ: 2018 NFL Draft Preview: Saquon Barkley at top of list of talented running backs

The 5-foot-11, 229-pound Barkley declared for the NFL Draft after a standout junior season at Penn State.

On 217 carries, Barkley ran for 1,271 yards and matched a career high with 18 rushing scores. Additionally, Barkley turned 54 catches out of the backfield into 632 yards and three touchdowns, and despite being an impact player on offense, was utilized on special teams, too.

Barkley returned 15 kickoffs for 426 yards and two touchdowns, including a 98-yard score against the Ohio State Buckeyes last October.

Barkleyโ€™s productivity as a junior followed what was a standout sophomore season.

During the 2016 season, one in which Penn State won the Big Ten Championship and narrowly missed out on making the College Football Playoffs, Barkley rushed for 1,496 yards and 18 touchdowns on 272 attempts. Barkley averaged 5.5 yards per carry in his second season with the Nittany Lions.

In his three years with Penn State, Barkley ran for 3,843 yards and 43 touchdowns on 671 carries.

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