The Cleveland Browns have Johnny Manziel competing with Brian Hoyer for the starting job in 2014 and heading into training camp it's the incumbents job to lose, but Manziel will get his chances to perform for the coaching staff and as that goes on, the Browns could be looking at a trade for Andre Johnson or a deal for Mike Wallace later in the offseason to help if they lose Josh Gordon for the year to a suspension.
Manziel comes in as a first round draft pick and he has more media attention on him than any other draft pick in this class and fans will be clamoring for him to get on the field. According to ESPN.com, Hoyer is coming in as the starter in training camp and while he is ahead of Manziel now, the rookie will have chances to prove himself. The team could look at trades to replace Gordon after also signing Miles Austin and Earl Bennett, as they may try and pick up Mike Wallace with the Dolphins since they could fit his cap number in, but that is unlikely this late in the offseason.
The Browns are coming into the season after going just 4-12 last year and they fired their head coach and now they have Kyle Shanahan coming in to run the offense for Mike Pettine and that could be very beneficial to Manziel. The Redskins ran an offense for RG3 that got him moving and Manziel likely will need the same and while he is being treated as a backup for now, he easily could jump ahead over the summer and win the job. The Browns have a number of solid young players and if Manziel gets the chance to step up, the team could be a surprise in the north division in the AFC.
The Browns had some flashes last season, but that was mostly due to Josh Gordon and if he is done for the year, it will be even tough for the Browns to get anything going. Last season the team ranked 11th in passing yards per game and 27th in rushing yards and they were also eight in passing yards allowed and 18th overall in rushing yards allowed. The team signed Ben Tate this offseason and that will help the rushing attack after trading away Trent Richardson, while Manziel may get his chance early in the season if Hoyer struggles.
Last year the Browns went just 2-4 against the division and 3-9 against the AFC despite Gordon leading the league in receiving yards and he also set a mark by being the first with back to back 200 yard games as a WR. The team opens with a tough slate against Pittsburgh on the road before returning home against the Saints and then against the Ravens and a betting man may put money on Manziel against Tennessee out of the Week 4 bye.
