The Cleveland Browns quarterback situation was muddled before Johnny Manziel went to rehab and now the team may look at trade options on the market this offseason, as names like Jay Cutler, Nick Foles, Kirk Cousins, RG3 and Matt Cassel could be available and this comes as Brian Hoyer and Mark Sanchez are free agent options and Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota and Brett Hundley are potential draft targets.
The Browns are coming into the offseason with some big questions and now with the news that Johnny Manziel is getting "treatment" things have become even more unclear. According to ESPN.com, Manziel entered a treatment facility to help work things out and become a better "teammate and person" and his entrance into the program was "voluntary".
ESPN.com reports that the Browns are supporting Manziel through this and that the team has his "health and well-being" as the top priority. Ray Farmer made that statement and this came after he already said that the team would explore quarterback options this offseason. There are numerous trade deals out there potentially, including Jay Cutler, Nick Foles, Kirk Cousins, Robert Griffin III and Matt Cassel, while Brian Hoyer and Mark Sanchez are potential pickups on the free agent market.
While is a worrisome development, it also has some positives for Manziel, as he clearly needs to change some things to be a professional NFL quarterback. ESPN put out a story after the season that detailed Manziel's issues with the Browns, including problems with preparation, partying and his nightlife and that is likely what led to this. Manziel now has the chance to try to turn things around and while he may not start next year, he could put himself in a better position to succeed.
The Browns finished 7-9 last season and out of the playoffs after opening the year 7-4 and now they will try and rebound in 2015. Hoyer started off the season well before falling off and now he could return, as Farmer has said that the team is keeping tabs on his market. According to Pro Football Talk, the Eagles may look at trading Nick Foles, while Jay Cutler is another potential target from the Chicago Bears, although that deal is unlikely due to his contract.
The team already had numerous questions even before the latest news with Manziel and Josh Gordon, as both players dealt with issues at the end of the season. Manziel was hit with a bad report about his lifestyle and preparation during the season and he also reportedly was late for a walkthrough with the team ahead of Week 17 when he was on IR. Gordon had been suspended for 10 games and was back for five when he was suspended again, this time for missing the same walkthrough. That came before Gordon was hit with another suspension for his alcohol consumption.
Gordon and Manziel have tons of potential, but if they can't get things together, they could be done in Cleveland soon enough. Manziel has more of a chance than Gordon, as Gordon will be out for another year after dealing with a suspension. Manziel has had party issues since college, but with his skills he still has the chance to be an exciting player in the league.