By: Drayton Hogarth

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Every year there are NFL teams who are in dire need of finding that franchise quarterback to lead them to the promised land.

A tradition unlike any other, the Cleveland Browns are yet again in that same category, and this year they will be joined by other teams such as the 49ers, Texans, and Saints.

It is quite an interesting quarterback pool to choose from in this draft class. Many that, we here in the south are very familiar with, including the quarterback of the reigning national champion, Clemson Tigers, DeShaun Watson.

One year starter for the North Carolina Tar Heels, Mitch Trubisky has been at the top of draft boards for quite a while. Here in the last few days leading up to the draft Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes has sky rocketed up many draft experts lists of first round prospects.

If I were a general manager of a team in dire need of a quarterback, there are distinct thoughts that I have on these three quarterbacks from our area.

If a team is looking for a quarterback to build its franchise around in this draft class you look no further than DeShaun Watson. The kid is a winner, period. End of story. Watson has shown a knack to make big plays right from the very first game when he arrived at Clemson.

Despite Dabo Swinney starting senior Cole Stoudt during Watson’s freshman season the talent was undeniable. Watson has a strong arm, is mobile and a strong runner and has a gift for making the right play at the right time.

Watson needs to work on completing a higher percentage as well as not look to take off out of the pocket when his first or second option isn’t open. There is just too much to like about what Watson brings to the table. He brings leadership and the intangibles that the NFL desires at their most visible position.

Mitch Trubisky has somehow enamored NFL teams and scouts for a few months now. Trubisky has been rumored to even be selected with the top pick overall. Why? Honestly, that is something that many are unable to answer. It seems he may be safe, but to me it appears that he is the Johhny Bravo for those that recall the Brady Bunch because he “fits the suit.”

Trubisky can make all the throws, checks off all of the boxes physically, but there is just something that doesn’t feel right about Trubisky.

He was only a starter for one season at North Carolina. Even during his only season as a starter nothing really stood out about his abilities on the field, as the Tar Heels had a middling 8-5 season. There doesn’t appear to be anything that says he can take an NFL franchise to the next level.

To me, Trubisky may end up a starter but looks more likely to be a career backup and if drafted in the first round, would make him a big-time draft bust. Maybe the Browns will take him then.

While Patrick Mahomes has been shooting up draft boards as fast as he accumulated passing yards while at Texas Tech, there just seems to be a stigma that follows Red Raider quarterbacks. So many have become products of the pass happy system that has been in place at Texas Tech for so long. Mahomes may be slightly different; he seems to be much more physically gifted than other Red Raider quarterbacks to enter the draft before him.

If Mahomes is available in that later third of the first round he is definitely worth the pick for teams in need of a quarterback. He is not one worthy of taking any higher than that, it is just too risky.

For whatever reason DeShaun Watson has fallen in the eyes of the NFL brass. However, to me he is the best option for teams in need of leadership at the quarterback position.

He brings it all to the table; talent, leadership, and a championship bloodline. The Browns should trade down and select Watson, but hey they wouldn’t be the Browns if they did.