The Cleveland Browns are coming into the NFL draft with two first round picks and that means they have the potential to trade up for Marcus Mariota and this comes as DeVante Parker is another potential target, while names like Knowshon Moreno, Chris Johnson, Stevan Ridley and Steven Jackson are options available on the free agent market.
The Browns come into the offseason after another losing season and they finished 2014 with five straight losses after a promising start. The team signed Josh McCown to be the starter over bringing back Brian Hoyer and while he will compete with Johnny Manziel, it's likely he will be the number one guy. According to Pro Football Talk, general manager Ray Farmer will not shy away from looking at quarterbacks in the draft and some have speculated the Browns could go after Mariota.
The Browns have two first round picks and the most selections in the draft of any team and that sets them up if they want to go after Mariota. Taking a quarterback in the first round two years in a row is not the issue that it once was, as contracts are not out of control like in past years and with the Browns cap space, it should not be an issue. According to Pat McManamon at ESPN.com, the team is in a good position to make a "major move" in the draft and after signing Dwayne Bowe, that move could be for Mariota.
McManamon and Jeremy Fowler both wrote at ESPN last week the Browns were in need of a wide receiver and that the draft could be a good way to fill that need. DeVante Parker has been mentioned as a target along with Kevin White, but now that the team has added Bowe, the Browns could afford to pass on a receiver early if they want to go get Mariota. McManamon writes that after filling some major needs by signing Randy Starks, Ramon Williams and Bowe, the team has flexibility to go after the "best players" in the first round over needs.
The team has been linked to DeVante Parker, as Charles Robinson at Yahoo Sports writes that he could be a potential pick if he lasts to number 12 for the Browns. Adding Bowe may change that, but the team still could use another option with Brian Hartline, Bowe and Andrew Hawkins since Josh Gordon is facing a suspension. The tight end position is another area of need after Jordan Cameron left, but the team could use the later rounds to fill that.
Bowe signed a two year deal with the team after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs and the team is expecting him to have a bounce back season. Bowe had 15 touchdowns in a season earlier in his career, but in 2014 he had zero touchdown catches and now the Browns are counting on him to be a consistent target on offense.
The team has Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West at running back, but they may look at free agency as the chance to add some depth. Names like Knowshon Moreno, Chris Johnson, Stevan Ridley and Steven Jackson are on the market and they could come cheap now that they have stayed on the market all this time. Adding some depth will help if West or Crowell get injured.
