"Hey I know we are where we are because every year we pass on the QB in the draft but this time here's my plan... We're going to pass on QB again this year because instead we're going to overpay Kirk Cousins."
If I were the owner and my GM came at me with that BS he'd be fired. But again, they got rid of Brown which means they're going to draft a QB this time around and finally get it right.
Oh and for all the hoopla around Barkley, who I do love btw, he's not a QB. When you draft a pocket QB you have a guy in place for the next 10-15 years. When you draft a RB you have a guy in place for maybe 5-6 years, going off shelf life averages probably lower than that. Even Barkley, as good as he is, isn't superhuman and he's going to face a lot of contact.
Browns need to build it right IMO. They pick first overall, this class is loaded at QB. Just take the QB and use FA to bolster your placeholder for this season.