Johnny Manziel was thought to be drafted by the Cleveland Browns to be the next face of the franchise. The high-profiled rookie quarterback was coming off two strong seasons at Texas A&M and every company was waiting to hand him an endorsement. However, Manziel has seen the field just once despite all of the media attention as Brian Hoyer continues to be the better option under center.
Speculation continues to rise that the Browns are preparing to trade Manziel in favor of giving Hoyer a new contract and drafting someone else. The Browns have two first-round picks in a year that is again heavy on the quarterback. The Cleveland Plain Dealer speculates that trading Manziel could garner the Browns another big pick and allow them to fill the remaining roster holes in order to remain playoff contenders. This decision will likely come down to deciding between Hoyer and Manziel for the future considering the veteran is working off an expiring contract. According to general manager Ray Farmer, though the Browns have seen very little from Manziel, he is a capable starter.
"I want Johnny to play when Johnny's ready to play, and we're comfortable with where we're at and how we want to play him and what the total organization looks like around him," said Farmer, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The result is for him to be successful for a long period of time and not just for a moment or for a flash, but for an extended period of time. We're going to put together the right group, and we're going to make sure everything is in place. He's going to be ready, and we're going to be ready when he does get that opportunity."
Manziel wants to play. Head coach Mike Pettine confirmed that when he hinted the quarterback was slightly frustrated over not getting any time on the field. Hoyer also wants to play. He told the media that he intends on signing a contract with the team that continues to let him start which may or may not be the Browns. If it is, could there be teams interested in trading for Manziel?
The Dallas Cowboys immediately come to mind simply because of Tony Romo's latest back issues, Brandon Weeden's struggles and Jerry Jones' love of the former Texas A&M star. Would they bring in Manziel as insurance to Romo? The Oakland Raiders might be eyeing help for Derek Carr who is having a hard time finding a win in his rookie campaign. The Houston Texans are also an option. Ryan Firtzpatrick has been benched. Ryan Mallett's contract is expiring. Tom Savage is an unknown.
It is unclear if the Browns really intend to try and move Manziel or not. Many speculate it could be the right move for the franchise in terms of garnering more draft picks for talent. The team has confidence in the talent of the rookie, they just have no intentions of letting him display it right now.
