Cleveland Browns Draft Rumors: Geno Smith To Push Brandon Weeden At Starter If He Passes Oakland Raiders? Team Could Take Matt Barkley Or EJ Manuel

Mar 19, 2013 09:49 AM EDT
Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden
The Cleveland Browns have an interesting quarterback situation heading into 2013 and the team plans to add another name to that mix as the offseason goes on and it could be West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, as the team may decide to select him in the upcoming NFL Draft."

The Cleveland Browns have an interesting quarterback situation heading into 2013 and the team plans to add another name to that mix as the offseason goes on and it could be West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, as the team may decide to select him in the upcoming NFL Draft.

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Browns CEO Joe Banner said on Monday that despite quarterback not being a main focus for the team when it comes to their first round pick, they will do their due diligence on Geno Smith, as they will have a private workout with him. Sources close to the team said that the ownership wants someone to come in and compete with starter Brandon Weeden and Smith could be that player.

The Browns were interested in possibly signing Matt Hasselbeck, who was released by the Titans, but he quickly signed with the Colts. The Browns had scouts at Smith's pro day and they will also get a closer look with the private workout. Smith was one of the top quarterbacks in college football last season and threw for 25 touchdowns before turning the ball over. He finished the season with over 40 touchdowns and just six interceptions.

"We want to make sure we're thorough about every single thing we're looking at, and as I've said, there's no more important position than quarterback," Banner said. "I don't want to look back and feel like we didn't do our full due diligence on a player that there's a variety of opinions on, frankly."

The Browns also are looking at USC's Matt Barkley and Florida State's E.J. Manuel as quarterback options and they could be available later in the draft. The team has the sixth pick in the April 25-27 draft and there are a number of talented players that could be available, including Eric Fisher Dee Milliner and Jarvis Jones.

The team has also shown interest in Ryan Mallett, who is the backup for the Patriots, but the team would not confirm the interest. The Patriots need defensive linemen and the Browns have six, meaning that a deal would workout. Banner also praised backup Colt McCoy and said that he would be a part of the process as well.

The team does not have a second round pick and will look hard at what to do with the first one, as they are ahead of a number of quarterback-starved teams in Oakland, Jacksonville and the Eagles.

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