The Cleveland Browns are once again stirring the pot when it comes to their quarterback rotation. General manager Ray Farmer has made it clear that all options are on the table in order to improve at the position and that includes trade ups in the NFL Draft if that is what it takes. However, none of those moves will likely come at the expense of Johnny Manziel.
According to head coach Mike Pettine via ESPN.com, the Browns are open to trading up for Marcus Mariota, but it will not come at the cost of Manziel. Many have speculated that the Browns are preparing to move on from Manziel after the quarterback returned from a stint in rehab, but the head coach is saying all of those reports are false and Cleveland's main goal is helping Manziel improve in all areas of life.
"I use that number 90 percent, too, about the accuracy of reports that are out there, being 90 percent inaccurate," Pettine said, via NFL.com. "I don't know where (Mortensen) would have gotten that from. (Manziel is) very much in our plans, and as we said, his career with us just hit the pause button. We've said this before, he's got to get himself right as a person first before we worry about Johnny the football player."
With a trade for Sam Bradford off the table, getting Mariota is the best option for Cleveland. The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that the Browns are open to packaging their first-round draft picks together in order to move up. Mariota is projected to go in the first two draft picks, so the Browns would have to strike a deal with either Tampa Bay or Tennessee. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com is reporting that Buccaneers might be open to trading down if the deal was right. However, many believe Jameis Winston is their intended target. Pettine stressed that it is all about value and making sure the deal is worth it for the Browns.
"It's all about value," Pettine said, via ESPN.com. "It's making sure that you're getting value for the pick and you're adding value to your roster and players that can help you in the short term and in the long term. I think everybody's at the point where all the teams call around, they call each other and I think everybody says, 'We're looking to trade up. We're looking to trade down.' I think you never truly know 'til you get close."
