The Cleveland Browns have a number of ways they can go at number four in the NFL draft and some have speculated they could trade for someone like Kirk Cousins, Christian Ponder or Ryan Mallett over taking a QB like Blake Bortles or Johnny Manziel at that spot, as it would enable the team to select Sammy Watkins instead and with all the extra picks the team has, it's something that could be considered by Ray Farmer.
The Redskins have not been shopping Cousins hard leading into the draft, but ESPN.com reported that Cousins is open to a deal and that was from earlier in the offseason. Redskins blogger John Keim writes that the team will be looking to make a deal heading into the draft, especially because the team has less picks after making the deal with the Rams for RG3 and they wouldn't mind adding some extra to the arsenal. According to SI.com, one exec thinks that Cousins is worth a third round pick and while the Redskins wanted a number two, it could be good enough to make a deal go down.
The Cleveland Browns have two third round picks and two fourth round picks and that could put them in the mix to make a deal and still have a very solid draft even with giving up a pick. The team made a deal during the draft last season to get an extra pick and the Trent Richardson trade got them another first rounder.
The Browns come into the draft with an abundance of picks and that is one of the main reasons why they could get involved in a deal for a backup quarterback. While the names in the top part of the draft are all very talented, some have said that the class lacks the ability to be legitimate starters and that could lead to some teams taking alternate routes to find a starter. On top of that, with names like Watkins, Jadeveon Clowney and Khalil Mack at the top, some scouts and GMs think it makes more sense to take players like that, who are far and away more talented and more of sure things, than picking a quarterback.
The Browns could follow this plan, as they have three picks over the first 35 of the draft and that means they have the chance to add some impact players. The team has multiple mid-round picks and that gives them the flexibility to use one of those on a potential deal for a quarterback, including someone like Cousins. The team likes Brian Hoyer and he was solid last season before getting injured, but he is coming back from an ACL injury and is not the second coming of Peyton Manning.
The team ditched Jason Campbell and Brandon Weeden in the offseason and while Hoyer could be the starter, it wouldn't hurt the team to add another quarterback behind him. The Browns have some playmakers on offense in Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron and adding someone like Watkins to the mix could give Kyle Shanahan the weapons to make a great offense. Gordon had a breakout season last year and he could be even better if the team adds someone like Watkins to the mix.
