The Cleveland Browns have a top four draft pick this season and a big need at quarterback, but there is a chance that the team could trade for backups Ryan Mallet or Kirk Cousins ahead of the event, as they may not be sold on Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel and that would enable the team to target Sammy Watkins at fourth overall and Carlos Hyde later in the draft.
The Browns have a number of needs on offense and defense and it is very likely that Cleveland will pick a quarterback at some point even if they did pull off a trade. According to ESPN.com blogger Scott Brown, the team could explore either Mallett or Cousins and if the Patriots or Redskins are willing to part with those QBs for a mid-round pick, a deal could go down that Cleveland would be willing to do. Brown adds that even if the team does that, there is a chance they will take another quarterback with a later pick, as this class is very deep.
Earlier in the offseason ESPN.com wrote that the Browns may end up picking two quarterbacks in the draft total and one of them could include Bortles or Manziel. This time of year has so much misinformation and so much is made out of so little that really nobody knows anything heading into the even except for the teams themselves. Either way, the Browns need to address the position at some point, as the ditched former first round pick Brandon Weeden during the offseason and they also cut loose backup Jason Campbell, leaving an injured Brian Hoyer and Alex Tanney as the QBs.
The Redskins signed Colt McCoy in the offseason and Mike Shanahan was the one who drafted Cousins, so a trade isn't that crazy of an option. Mallett could be on the move soon too as well, as he has been serving as the backup for Tom Brady for these few years and now his contract is up and it's almost guaranteed that the Pats replace him in this draft. There are names that can be had late, including Aaron Murray, Zach Mettenberger, Tom Savage, AJ McCarron and David Fales and all of those could be options for the Browns in the late rounds.
The team also has a need at running back and they could add someone like Carlos Hyde in the second round, as they have the number 35 pick in the draft. Hyde rushed for over 1,500 yards last season and he scored 15 touchdowns and could make a great pair with Ben Tate.
The team can afford to make a trade, as they have 10 picks to deal and all of them are allowed to get moved since none are compensatory and they are also set in the first two rounds, as they have three picks in the top 35. The browns have the chance to reshape their team and with two third round picks and two fourth round picks, teams will be calling about trades and that could set the team up for the future as well. This is a deep draft and that means trading picks will become a sort of art for these general managers.
