Sam Darnold to the Browns in Todd McShay's Post-Super Bowl 2018 NFL Mock Draft

ESPN's Todd McShay projected that the Cleveland Browns would select USC quarterback Sam Darnold with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft as part of his second mock draft released Tuesday.

He had Darnold to Cleveland in his first mock draft as well.

Meanwhile, fellow ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. had the Browns selecting Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen in his first mock.

The Browns have the NFL's longest playoff drought (2002). A lack of quality quarterback play has been the main culprit, and it was the case once again in 2017, as Cleveland went winless.

Head coach Hue Jackson gave rookie second-round pick DeShone Kizer a chance to establish himself as the signal-caller of the future, but he struggled with 2,894 yards, 11 touchdowns and an NFL-high 22 interceptions.

Darnold was spectacular as a freshman in 2016, but he took some steps back during his redshirt sophomore campaign. Although he set a career high with 4,143 passing yards, his 63.1 percent of throws completed, 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions all represented regressions.

Despite that, McShay called Darnold safer than Allen and the "best of the bunch" in a hyped-up quarterback class.

If the Browns are committed to taking a quarterback No. 1 overall, UCLA's Josh Rosen and Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield are other possibilities along with Darnold and Allen.

They could also wait until their second pick at No. 4 to take a quarterback and instead go with Penn State running back Saquon Barkley or NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb first overall.

In his latest mock draft released the day after Super Bowl LII, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller also had Darnold No. 1 overall.