The Cleveland Browns are ready to find their new franchise quarterback. They cleaned off the roster in the offseason, getting rid of former first-round pick Brandon Weeden and backup Jason Campbell, appearing poised to get a rookie to start in 2014. However, Brian Hoyer has more confidence from the coaching staff than originally realized which is changing the Browns' draft plans.
The Browns have two first-round picks, again making them easily predicted to draft a quarterback with either the No. 4 or the No. 26 pick. However, that is not the plan. FOX Sports' Jay Glazer is reporting the Browns have no interest in drafting Johnny Manziel if he were to drop out of the first three picks. IT has been heavily reported that Manziel was the favorite in Cleveland. Owner Jimmy Haslam has expressed a lot of praise towards the former Texas A&M star and it was easy to see Manziel dropping a bit with strengths at other positions. However, Glazer notes that Manziel does not fit the mold of the Cleveland offense and the team is looking another direction with that first pick.
So if the Browns do not take Manziel at No. 4, do they take a quarterback at No. 26? According to ESPN.com, the Browns will take a quarterback with that pick, but not in the draft. NFL sources are reporting that Cleveland is shopping that first-round pick to the Washington Redskins in exchange for backup Kirk Cousins. The Redskins have denied that Cousins is available despite his requests in the offseason, but the team is also lacking a first-round draft pick.
The Browns are very familiar with Cousins after they added Kyle Shanahan as the offensive coordinator. He is the pocket passer with the strong arm that the Browns are looking for and he would transition easily into an offense that he knows. The Redskins have Robert Griffin III and backup Colt McCoy so the idea of trading Cousins for a first-round pick should really be a no-brainer. The Redskins got the former Michigan State in the third round so the return on investment is high.
The Browns would get their quarterback that should perform better than a rookie. ESPN goes on to say they will use that first-round pick for either a wide receiver in Sammy Watkins or an offensive lineman in Greg Robinson or Jake Matthews. The draft is just 24 hours away so if Cleveland is going to make this deal, they better pick up the phone.
