The Cleveland Browns are coming into the draft with questions at QB and that could lead to a trade for Ryan Mallett or Kirk Cousins with the New England Patriots or Washington Redskins, as the team may miss out on targets like Blake Bortles and Khalil Mack early and that could lead to the Browns trading picks, as they come into the draft with double digit selections in 2014.
The Browns got rid of former first round pick Brandon Weeden and his backup Jason Campbell from last season and that leaves an injured Brian Hoyer as the starting quarterback on the roster right now, meaning the Browns are going to make a move at some point regarding the position. ESPN.com writer Pat McManamon proposed that the Browns could make a trade for Mallett or Cousins ahead of or during the draft is they miss out on Bortles, who is their top rated QB, as the team has 10 picks in the draft and that gives them the flexibility to make a move. The team has said that they could draft two quarterbacks, but if they pull off the deal it may mean just one later on, with names like Tom Savage, Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger as options.
The Browns went 4-12 last season and while they got some nice play out of Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron, they were lacking on offense and now with Mike Pettine coming in as a defensive guy, it makes sense to go with offense with their first round pick in the draft. Sammy Watkins could be an option at number four and he would make a dynamic duo with Josh Gordon on the outside, while Greg Robinson is also an option, as he is considered the best offensive lineman in the draft.
Mack is getting some pub as a player that could be better than Clowney and he is coming in after putting up 10.5 sacks last season and he has gotten some high marks from Mel Kiper and others. Mack also ended up in the top 10 in the nation with tackles for loss and that could push him up the board as well. The team defended against the pass well last season, ranking eighth in passing yards per game, but they were 18th against the run and they also were 27th overall in rushing yards per game after trading Trent Richardson.
That deal set the team up well now, but they need a running back to pair with Ben Tate and the draft will allow them to find one or two. The Browns will be taking a quarterback at some point and they could go for Bortles, who has been compared to Ben Roethlisberger with his size and skills. The three QBs can be compared to Eli Manning, Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers in 2004, but those names are not as highly regarded as the Big 3 was back then. In the second round the running backs could get some play and Carlos Hyde is likely the first to go and names like Tre Mason, Andre Williams and Jeremy Hill should get looks as well, as all were over 1,400 yards last season and had double digit touchdowns.