The Cleveland Browns appear to be finished with Johnny Manziel heading into the offseason and if Hue Jackson make a change at quarterback, players like Jared Goff, Paxton Lynch and Connor Cook could be potential targets in the draft. The Browns also may look at players like Sam Bradford, Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins as options for next season.
The Browns had another tough season in 2015 and after firing Mike Pettine as head coach the team has brought in Hue Jackson to take over. Jackson comes in after running the Cincinnati Bengals offense and he already has established a target for the offseason: a quarterback. According to NFL.com, Jackson was on Bleacher Report's XM Radio show and said that the team needs " a quarterback." Jackson said "it's my opinion we need a quarterback" and those words could mean that Manziel's days playing in Cleveland are over.
Manziel actually wasn't horrible for the Browns when he played this season, but the quarterback dealt with multiple issues off the field and that could be what ends his run in Cleveland. Manziel could be traded or released, or the team could keep him and go after another young quarterback. The Browns have the number two pick in the draft and they could go after a quarterback with the pick. This year the 2016 class has a deep list of players at the position, including Goff, Lynch, Cook, Kevin Hogan, Cody Kessler and Christian Hackenberg.
Goff is considered to be the top overall prospect in the draft this year and he should be available to the Browns with the Titans just taking Marcus Mariota first overall. Goff had over 3700 passing yards and 43 touchdowns for Cal this season and CBS Sports writes that he has NFL arm strength and the size to be a starting quarterback in the pros.
The Browns also could consider going after players in free agency at quarterback, as Sam Bradford and Kirk Cousins are set to hit the market along with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Cousins is expected to remain with the Redskins, but Bradford could be a potential option if he ends up leaving Philadelphia after Chip Kelly was fired. The Browns went after both Cousins and Bradford last offseason and could pick up on that interest again this year. Robert Griffin III is expected to be released by the Washington Redskins and he also could be a potential target if he becomes a free agent.
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