The Cleveland Browns will be under the microscope this offseason with Johnny Manziel coming in as a rookie and even if he starts off as a backup, he has a good chance to push Brian Hoyer for the starting job in training camp now that he has started working with Kyle Shanahan's offense, which now has new receivers Earl Bennett and Miles Austin and the Browns also could look at trades for Mike Wallace or Andre Johnson.
The Browns took a big hit with the possibility of a season long suspension for Josh Gordon and they added both Austin and Bennett to help soften that blow. Manziel had his first on field workouts for the Browns over the weekend and while it was just some handoffs and throws to running backs, the quarterback said that he was excited to get his professional career started and that the city of Cleveland has embraced him so far since the draft. Manziel had multiple practices during the rookie minicamp and coming into things players on the team and coach Mike Pettine have told the quarterback to act like a backup and he has so far done nothing but that and he really has given a great attitude and has said all the right things heading into the rest of the offseason.
The fans will want Manziel and there's no doubt his talent will get him on the field at some point and now he will have to battle against Brian Hoyer, who is coming back from serious knee surgery. Hoyer had a nice start last season before getting hurt and while he is coming in as the number one QB on the depth chart, Manziel will get a bit of a head start in the new offense depending on when he is fully healed from his injury. Manziel worked out with fellow rookie Terrance West, who was drafted out of Towson at running back and was one of the most productive players in college football last season.
The Browns took Justin Gilbert with their first pick at number eight in the draft in the first round before coming back for Manziel at number 22 and after that in the second round they went after Joel Bitonio to solidify the offensive line. The team has Gordon's explosive production from last season to make up for after he had over 80 catches and a league leading 1,600 plus yards and that is why many wondered why the team did not take Sammy Watkins at number four.
The team made that deal with the Bills and it eventually enabled them to trade back in for Manziel so there was a point to it, but Watkins is a dynamic talent to lose. The team released Greg Little and signed Bennett and Austin, who will have to make up for Gordon and the 41 catches for 465 yards that Little had. Last season Austin had just 24 catches while dealing with injuries, while Bennett made 185 catches in six seasons while playing for the Bears and those two will have to make up for the losses at receiver.
