The Cleveland Browns have Johnny Manziel on the sidelines for the rest of the season with an injury and in 2015 if they feel he is not the starting quarterback of the future, the team may turn to a Jay Cutler trade, Ryan Mallett, Michael Vick, Mark Sanchez, Brian Hoyer, Sam Bradford, Kirk Cousins, Jake Locker, Christian Ponder or Marcus Mariota to start at QB moving forward.
Brian Hoyer opened the season as the starter and after a few ineffective games, Mike Pettine put Manziel in for the Browns. Manziel got his chance late in the season and while he was up and down to start his career with the Browns, an injury cut his season short. The Browns have missed the playoffs yet again and moving forward they have some major decisions to make, as Hoyer will be a free agent and Manziel is still an unknown.
Earlier in the season it looked like Hoyer was going to get another contract with the Browns, but he faltered down the stretch and now it's unlikely he comes back. Hoyer was not likely a long term solution anyway and now Ray Farmer and Pettine will have to see what direction they go next. The Browns are in an interesting position, as they have Manziel on the team, but in this day and age, it is not crazy or crippling to draft quarterbacks two years in a row. In the past with the crazy rookie contracts it was, but now with price tags more manageable, the Browns could make some maneuvers.
While drafting a QB in the first round is unlikely since they took Manziel at number 22 last year, the Browns have the ammunition with picks to make major moves if they want. Cleveland.com reports that Farmer has been "enamored" with Mariota and while that doesn't mean the team will trade up for him, it signals that they are at least considering other options from Manziel. Mariota might be too far out of reach, but the Browns have a ton of draft picks to work with.
The Cleveland.com article also details other options for the Browns, including the possibility of a Jay Cutler trade. While this is also an unlikely move, the article states that the Browns have the picks to make a trade like this and if the Bears want to move on, Cleveland could do for Cutler despite the fact that he will make over $15 million next season. Other options on the market (or players that likely will be on the market) include Hoyer, Jake Locker, Michael Vick, Mark Sanchez, Ryan Mallett and Colt McCoy, who was previously with the Browns.
The Buccaneers are expected to have the top pick and they like Mariota, but they need a ton of help and getting picks from the Browns could be worth a move. Cleveland has two first round picks in this draft and another eight picks, giving them a league high 10 picks in this draft and that is enough to make some moves. The team also would likely have to give up a future first round pick to get Mariota, which makes this move unlikely but possible. Manziel is signed to a four year deal that is worth $8.248 million, including $7.998 million guaranteed, after being taken at number 22.
Check out more on the QB situation from Cleveland.com.
