Cleveland selected Baker Mayfield first overall and cornerback Denzel Ward fourth. The New York Giants drafted Barkley at No. 2, while the Buffalo Bills traded up to select Allen at No. 7. Haley stressed that his preference was not an indictment of Mayfield, whom he said he likes, but admitted he still wakes up thinking about the players the Browns passed on.
Both Barkley and Allen went on to become NFL stars. Allen won the 2024 MVP award, while Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards that season and earned Offensive Player of the Year honors. Their success, along with Cleveland’s ongoing quarterback struggles, has kept the missed opportunity fresh in Haley’s mind.
### Key Takeaways
– Todd Haley says he urged Cleveland to draft Barkley first and Allen fourth in 2018.
– The Browns chose Baker Mayfield and Denzel Ward instead; Barkley went to the Giants and Allen to the Bills.
– Allen and Barkley later became major NFL stars, intensifying Haley’s regret about the Browns’ draft choices.
#NFLDraft
