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          Does RG III change Browns' need to draft a QB?

          • Todd McShayMar 24, 2016, 12:56 PM ET
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              Todd McShay is a senior NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting reports on the nation's top pro prospects. He also serves as a college football field analyst on Saturdays in the fall. Todd joined ESPN in 2006 and contributes to SportsCenter, NFL Live, College Football Live and ESPN Radio. He is a Massachusetts native and was a backup quarterback at the University of Richmond. You can follow Todd on Twitter via @McShay13.
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          Since 1999, the Cleveland Browns have had 24 starting quarterbacks. Twenty-four! That's five more than any other team in the NFL. So just because the Browns are expected to sign Robert Griffin III does not mean they should forgo selecting a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. A team with a need at the position can't afford to pass on a potential franchise-changer at the game's most important position just because it signed a high-profile guy off the street. The Browns can hope that RG III will be successful, but given his history, they have to get a viable backup plan.

          Because of the importance of the position, if the Browns have at least a late first-round grade on either North Dakota State's Carson Wentz or Cal's Jared Goff, they should pull the trigger on their preferred choice. There's no guarantee a good QB option will be sitting there at No. 32 when they draft again.

          Right now, I have Wentz ahead of Goff on my board, but the margin is slim. It's really all about personal preference.

          Wentz, whose pro day was taking place right as this news was breaking, has taken full advantage of the postseason process. He shined at the Senior Bowl, got rave reviews for his interviews at the combine and looked good again during his pro day. He comes from a pro-style system, albeit at the FCS level, and throws the ball with excellent timing and placement. At 6-foot-5 and 237 pounds, Wentz has the frame teams look for in a QB.

          Wentz is more of a threat to run the ball than Goff, but the Cal product has quicker feet within the pocket. Goff has excellent intangibles, good accuracy and he could eventually develop into a good starter at the next level, but it will take time.

          And that's the important word here: time. I wrote when both of these players declared for the draft that they weren't ready to play on Sundays from day one in the NFL -- and while I like a lot about what they both bring to the table, that still holds true today. Goff comes from an Air Raid system that is measurably different from what he'll be asked to do in the NFL, and Wentz will face a major step up in competition coming from the FCS.

          Really, this could be a perfect scenario for Cleveland: Sign a veteran quarterback with some upside (RG III), draft a QB No. 2 overall (Wentz or Goff) and let the rookie sit and learn from coach Hue Jackson while Griffin runs the show.