The Cleveland Browns are coming into the 2014 NFL draft with a major question at quarterback and a trade for Ryan Mallett or Terrelle Pryor could be an option for Mike Pettine as he looks to target names like Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr in the event in May after ditching both Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell this offseason.
The Browns are very likely to take a quarterback at some point in the draft in May and while it may not be with their first pick at number five in the draft, they will pick someone in the later rounds. Bortles has been mentioned as the likely option of the three with the Browns and ESPN.com is reporting that no matter what the Browns decide to do in the draft, they still need to make a move at quarterback before then. Pat McManamon writes that Alex Tanney is not enough for the team now with Brian Hoyer still recovering from an ACL injury and since veteran minicamps start up later in the month, the team will need to make a move of some sort.
The team could look to sign a free agent option to handle things until Hoyer comes back or after the draft, as Josh Freeman, Matt Flynn, Brady Quinn and others are on the market, but those would likely be short term solutions only. The team still doesn't really have a quarterback for this season and even though Brian Hoyer was solid last year, he really shouldn't count until he can show he is back healthy. Pettine has enough issues with it simply being the Browns organization and the quarterback position will be the key for him.
The Browns actually have the chance to make a jump this season, as they have some talented players in Joe Haden, Josh Gordon, Jordan Cameron, Alex Mack and Joe Thomas and now they need a leader to get all that together. While they are both young, Terrelle Pryor and Ryan Mallett could be options for the team, as the Browns have enough picks to make a trade heading into the draft if they want to. The team has three picks over the first 35 in the draft this season and that gives them a chance to make moves if they want. They have the chance to pick talent and they could bring in one of those young quarterbacks while also taking one later in the draft if they so choose.
The team has some major decision to make, as they are in the top five and will have a chance to select a QB and if they think one of those names are worth it, they will make the pick. Bridgewater was considered to be the most pro ready coming out and he could be the pick if Bortles or Manziel are gone. The team likes Bortles and he is considered the player with the highest ceiling, as he has the physical tools, including a big arm and body and he has been compared to Ben Roethlisberger. The Browns have some major choices to make and the three quarterbacks are all interesting picks to check out.
