The Cleveland Browns are set on Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel. The team gave each player the silent endorsement by not adding someone in the NFL Draft despite all of the hype with Marcus Mariota and Sam Bradford. The Browns stayed put on their rotation, but will they regret it if one of the quarterbacks begins to struggle. Both Manziel and McCown leave a lot to be desired which could force the Browns to make moves in the offseason.
According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, head coach Mike Pettine has named McCown the starter entering offseason workouts and training camps. Manziel will be his No. 2 followed by Thaddeus Lewis and Connor Shaw. Lewis may or may not make the final roster. Shaw some on game of starting time last year, but is not an option to be the full-time quarterback. The lack of quality depth could force the Browns to make decisions during practice.
"We're a ways away from just kind of worrying about how the depth part of it shakes out,'' Pettine said, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "They're all in that room, and they're all trying to learn it. Josh, obviously, has an advantage having been in this system where there's a lot of carryover because he worked with (offensive coordinator John DeFilipppo) Flip before. I know a lot of those similar roots are in there, but we don't really kind of get into depth charts and where guys are.''
McCown is coming off a bad year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had a lot to prove. Manziel did nothing in his brief time as a starter in 2014 and then spent the first part of his offseason in rehab. Now back with the team, he too has a lot to prove. Pettine made it clear that the depth chart can change and players can also be added. If both McCown and Manziel are having a hard time looking the part, the Browns have options.
According to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, the Browns were one of the teams to show interest when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were shopping Mike Glennon during the NFL scouting combine. After drafting Jameis Winston, Glennon is available at the right price. The same can be said for Zach Mettenberger who is now the No. 2 guy behind Marcus Mariota. The Washington Redskins have endorsed Robert Griffin III for the next two years meaning Kirk Cousins or Colt McCoy might be options.
If the Browns feel pressured to add another quality body to the rotation, there are solid quarterbacks available. Pettine is making it clear that he has full confidence in the players currently on the roster, but it remains to be seen if that holds out once practices begin again.