The Cleveland Browns are coming into the NFL draft with a big hole at quarterback and while the team will be adding a veteran at some point, names like Kirk Cousins and Ryan Mallett could be potential trade targets, while Johnny Manziel, Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater are also picks the team could go for in May after they ditched both Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell in the offseason.
The Browns have been mostly a mess over the past few years and after firing their head coach from last season and hiring Mike Pettine, they are ready for a new quarterback. Brian Hoyer appears ready to compete for the starting job once he is healthy and with the team having the fourth overall pick, they easily could draft a quarterback at that spot, or of course they could wait until later in the draft and then take someone like Sammy Watkins at that pick. The draft is deep this season, as players like AJ McCarron, Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger will be available in the later rounds.
According to NFL.com, Pettine said that the team will look to add a veteran quarterback this offseason before the draft and since they only have Alex Tanney on the roster apart from Hoyer, names like Rex Grossman and Brady Quinn are on the free agent market. The Browns could look to add one of those names, while ESPN.com team blogger Pat McManamon suggests that the team could pull off a deal for either Mallett or Cousins. Both players have been mentioned in trade rumors this offseason and they could be in the mix for the Browns, as they are young, will cost less than a first round draft pick and Cousins has some solid experience so far.
Mallett has not gotten much time under center with Tom Brady at quarterback, but he has shown he can be a solid backup, while Cousins reportedly could be had for a second or third round draft pick. The Browns actually are in decent position to make a trade with a draft pick, as they have three picks among the top 35 and they have extra picks after making the Trent Richardson trade and another deal from the draft last season. Pettine said that he would like to add another quarterback for the teams offseason workouts and that will come before Hoyer is ready and he would like to have a veteran in over Tanney.
The team has some major decisions to make, as they pick fourth and could be in the mix for one of the top quarterbacks. If the Texans pick Jadeveon Clowney, the Browns are guaranteed at least a chance at drafting one of the big names. Bortles has been considered a prime target for the team, as he has a big arm and has the size to play in the NFL. Manziel brings star power and Bortles has the biggest upside according to scouts, while Bridgewater had a so-so pro day and if he gets past the Browns he could fall from the top 10.