For the first time in almost two decades, the Browns have used the No. 1 pick on a quarterback.
Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield became the first signal-caller drafted by Cleveland at No. 1 since Tim Couch back in 1999.
Mayfield is the third quarterback taken within the past four years, joining Jared Goff (Rams, 2016) and Jameis Winston (Buccaneers, 2015). Digging deeper into draft history, he's the 16th quarterback taken first overall since 1990 and 13th since the Browns tabbed Couch just before the franchise's first season back.
While nothing is ever certain in the NFL, there's a strong correlation between quarterbacks taken first overall and their track record of on-field success. A brief look at some those passers, starting with Peyton Manning, the No. 1 pick in the 1998 draft:
Manning (1998): Two-time Super Bowl champion, 14-time Pro Bowler, future Hall-of-Famer
Michael Vick (2001): One of the game's most electying players, Vick was a four-time Pro Bowler whose career was never quite the same after he 21-month prison sentence for his involvement in a dog-fighting ring..
Carson Palmer (2003): Retired this past winter after 14 season, three Pro Bowls. Palmer was also the league's passing touchdowns leader in 2005; teams were consistent playoff contenders
Eli Manning (2004): Two Super Bowls, two-time Super Bowl MVP, four-time Pro Bowler
Alex Smith (2005): Smith is entering his 13th season; three Pro Bowls
Matthew Stafford (2009): Stafford enters 10th season in Detroit; 2014 Pro Bowler; fourth quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 5,000 yards in a single season; fastest player in NFL history to reach 30,000 passing yards.
Cam Newton (2011): NFL MVP (2015), three-time Pro Bowler, Offensive Rookie of the Year
Andrew Luck (2012): Three Pro Bowls in five seasons
Of course, it's impossible to accurately track the trajectory of Mayfield's career right now. But if history says anything, the Browns increased their chances of finding that ever-elusive franchise quarterback.
