Why Saquon Barkley needs to be the first overall pick in the NFL Draft

Saquon Barkley’s combine performance should be a surprise to no one, yet it has catapulted his draft stock

For those of us who had the privilege of watching Saquon Barkley for three years in Penn State blue and white, it is not a surprise that he is generating plenty of first pick buzz.

Barkley is a generational talent with speed, strength, quickness, vision and pass catching ability. There’s plenty more, but the list would eclipse the word count I’m afforded here.

It was odd to see the surprise on social media that Barkley ran a 4.40 40-yard dash, put up 29 reps on the bench press and recorded a 41 inch vertical leap at the combine. I suppose it was strange for me because I saw those numbers translate in a very tangible way on the field.

Barkley is an absolute beast, but NFL execs often don’t always trust what they see, and need the numbers to back it up. He has provided that, and now it is up to the Cleveland Browns to do the right thing.

Cleveland is in a unique position with both the first and fourth picks in the draft. That is almost impossible to bungle, but it’s the Browns we’re talking about.

Barkley has proven on the field and at the combine he has the football ability to be the first pick, but a running back hasn’t gone first overall since Penn State great Ki-Jana Carter in 1995.

NFL logic dictates that the fastest way from the cellar to the attic is to draft a franchise quarterback. The Browns have subscribed to that in the past, realized they suck at drafting quarterbacks, then traded out of the opportunity to draft Carson Wentz, and last year they drafted DeShone Kizer in the second round. So the quarterback route hasn’t exactly worked for Cleveland.

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Granted, they aren’t tied to Kizer to be the franchise quarterback. It’s curious though, that they would use a high pick on him if they didn’t think they could develop him into a serviceable player.

This is also interesting considering the Browns had to have realized they would have the opportunity to draft Josh Allen, Josh Rosen or Sam Darnold or even Baker Mayfield this year. So why waste a pick on Kizer last year? I don’t know, but if I try to understand the thinking of the Browns front office I’ll need some serious therapy.

So, here the Browns are, sitting at one and four. It is possible they draft Josh Allen at one, and hope Barkley falls to four (he won’t). It is also possible they take UCLA’s Josh Rosen or USC’s Sam Darnold at one, and then look for a defensive player at four. Hell, they might even take a QB at one an four and just hope one pans out. I say that only half-jokingly.

While some may say Allen has separated himself from the pack, there is still no consensus top quarterback.

The smart thing for the Browns to do is take the incredible Barkley at one. If they are so inclined, then take an available quarterback at four and put them in a competition with Kizer. Or, take Barkley at one and defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick at four. That would be the way to go if Cleveland thinks they can develop Kizer.

For Browns GM John Dorsey, the task of completely rebuilding a franchise is daunting. Taking the best player available at each pick would be the smartest way to approach a rebuild.

During the season, experts tip-toed around calling Barkley the best player in college football. That narrative is shifting and Barkley tops many mock draft boards.

What Penn State fans knew all along has been solidified at the combine. Barkley is the best player available; missing on him could be the biggest draft mistake the Browns have ever made.

And just look at some of those mistakes.

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