Heading into the NFL Draft, every quarterback trade the Cleveland Browns have attempted to get done has failed. The franchise is still going into 2015 with Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel as their main two quarterbacks which may or may not be enough to get the job. Barring any big trade up for players like Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston, the Browns will use their two first-round draft on other positions to build the offense up.
The Browns will make selections at both No. 12 and No. 19 unless they opt to trade around. Taking the quarterback out of the equation, the Cleveland Plain Dealer predicts the Browns will select a wide receiver with their first pick considering it is the biggest need on the offense outside of quarterback help. Cleveland lost Josh Gordon to suspension, Miles Austin to free agency and will enter the season with Andrew Hawkins, Taylor Gabriel and the newly signed Brian Hartline and Dwayne Bowe. That rotation leaves a lot to be desire which is why a young wide receiver should be a priority for the team.
According to ClevelandBrowns.com, the franchise has taken visits with Amari Cooper, Kevin White, DeVante Parker and Breshad Perriman entering the NFL Draft. Cooper and White will be gone in the first 10 picks, but Parker, Perriman and players like Jaelen Strong or Phillip Dorsett will still be around as quality options. The Browns did not address the wide receiver need last season and paid the price. They must get a top player this year in order to begin moving past Gordon who is unlikely to rejoin the team regardless of whether or not he is reinstated back into the league.
The Browns can still make the move for Mariota. According to Mark Eckel of NJ.com, the Browns are no longer pursuing a trade for Sam Bradford after the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback made it clear he would not sign an extension with Cleveland. Winston is expected to go No. 1 overall to either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or another team who trades for him. That leaves Mariota the best option and the case is certainly there for the Browns to jump up and get him.
As Manziel rejoins the team, the Browns must also decide whether or not it is worth keeping him around considering all of his off-the-field issues. Trade talk has gone nowhere since the Browns tossed him into the Bradford deal. Releasing the quarterback might be the best way to cut ties and move on. The Browns likely will not make a call on Manziel until after the draft and see if they make any quarterback moves there before either retaining or moving on from the second-year pro.
