Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston are considered the two best quarterbacks to potentially enter the NFL Draft this year. Winston took the first step to declaring his intentions to turn professional which has many of the top teams beginning to consider whether or not the Florida State quarterback is worth taking or trading up for. With plenty of teams in the top ten draft order needing quarterback help for the future, who makes a move to grab either player?
According to Fansided.com, the Cleveland Browns are one of five teams that will consider trading up to draft Winston. At this moment, most mock drafts are assuming the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will remain at the No. 1 spot and select Mariota barring a surprise decision to return to Oregon for his final year of NCAA eligibility. That leaves every other team to battle for Winston at potentially the No. 2 spot. The Browns are the heavy favorite to make a move.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, all options are on the table when it comes to the quarterback position. General manager Ray Farmer noted that the team was looking to do whatever possible to put players on the roster ready to win even if that means drafting a quarterback in the first round like they did last year. With two first-round picks to work with, the Browns can easily make this move happen. The option is there to package both picks together for either the No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick. That would be a pricey jump, but if the Browns feel Winston or even Mariota is "the guy" then they will pull the trigger on a deal.
Speculation continues to rise over the futures of Johnny Manziel and Brian Hoyer. The veteran quarterback has noted that a return to Cleveland is certainly an option, but only if the team gives him a real chance at remaining the starting quarterback. Farmer noted that Hoyer had the leverage when it came to a return and the team is certainly leaning towards re-signing the quarterback.
That leaves the biggest question mark sitting over Manziel's head. If the Browns were to draft a quarterback, there is a solid chance they will seek to trade the rookie or at least see what his market value is. The NFL tape for Manziel is slim, but what does exist is not good which might make a trade hard to come by. Right now, the quarterback is in the doghouse for the Browns and could find himself riding the bench once again.
