Browns reportedly still weighing the risks and costs of quarterbacks Marcus Mariota or Sam Bradford
Apr 09, 2015 -- 6:00am
By Tony Grossi | ESPNCleveland.com
http://espncleveland.com/common/more.php?m=49&action=blog&r=17&post_id=43901
The Morning Kickoff …
Quarterback carousel: If you believe the Browns have one more quarterback move in their playbook, which one are you buying: Marcus Mariota or Sam Bradford?
Each carries enormous risk and huge investment.
One is a one-read, spread-option college quarterback who never called a play in a huddle.
The other is a snake-bitten NFL veteran who suffered ACL surgeries on his left knee twice in a 10-month span and has not played a full 16 games since the 2012 season, and is 18-30-1 as an NFL starter.
The Browns have added Josh McCown and Thad Lewis, and are poised to welcome back 2014 first-round draft pick Johnny Manziel from an undisclosed dependency treatment center. But national speculation persists that the Browns are plotting to add Mariota or Bradford and separate from Manziel.
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire?
Let’s examine the possibilities.
Marcus Mariota
Overview: Similar to Manziel one year ago, opinions on Mariota are all over the map. On Wednesday, respected NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock elevated Mariota to the top spot in his quarterback rankings, ahead of consensus No. 1 Jameis Winston of Florida State. Another NFL Network analyst, Brian Baldinger, projects Mariota dropping all the way to No. 20 in his mock draft. Manziel has been scrutinized closely by the teams holding the top two selections in the April 30 draft – Tampa Bay and Tennessee. Other possible interested teams are Washington (No. 5), the N.Y. Jets (No. 6), St. Louis (No. 10), San Diego (No. 17) and Philadelphia (No. 20).
Browns connection: Mariota was tutored to prepare for the NFL Combine and pre-draft process by Kevin O’Connell, who was an independent quarterback coach before being hired to be Browns quarterbacks coach in February. After joining the Browns, O’Connell supervised Mariota’s orchestrated pro day workout in Eugene, OR, on March 13. Because of O’Connell’s close relationship and familiarity with Mariota, coach Mike Pettine indicated the Browns may not work out Mariota privately. At the combine, Mariota’s eyes lit up when asked about rejoining O’Connell in Cleveland. “That would be an awesome opportunity. I'd love to play for the Browns,” he said.
The cost: It has been presumed that the only way for the Browns to guarantee acquiring Mariota would be to trade for Tennessee’s No. 2 selection. The cost of moving up from No. 12 probably would be three No. 1s – the Browns’ two first-round picks this year and their pick in 2016 – and possibly a second-round pick. But trading up to No. 2 would be dependent on Tampa Bay officially choosing Winston with the No. 1 pick.
The cost would decrease substantially if Mariota slipped past Tennessee at No. 2. The next team of interest would be Washington at No. 5. So for the Browns to leap-frog the Redskins, they would have to trade with Oakland for the No. 4 pick. Using the outdated draft trade value chart as a guide, the Browns would have to give up picks No. 12 and No. 19 for the Raiders’ No. 4 and other considerations.
If somehow Mariota dropped to the No. 6 spot, and the Jets were interested in trading down for extra picks, the cost would be in the vicinity of the Browns’ No. 12 and No. 43 (second-round) picks.
The risk: Mariota is a slam dunk in terms of work ethic, off-field character and “face of the franchise.” But he is a projection as an NFL winner because of the non-traditional offensive system he played in at Oregon. Many believe the learning curve as a traditional NFL quarterback in the pocket will keep him off the field for the first year. Rushing him in could retard, if not ruin, his pro potential, some analysts say.
Probability scale (1 to 10 with 10 being the best chance): Four.
Sam Bradford
Overview: Despite Bradford missing 25 games the past two seasons, Eagles coach Chip Kelly rocked the NFL on March 10 by trading quarterback Nick Foles, a 2015 fourth-round pick and a 2016 second-round pick to the St. Louis Rams for Bradford and a 2015 fifth-round pick. The blockbuster trade fueled speculation that Kelly’s ultimate goal was to “flip” Bradford for the purpose of winding up with Mariota, whom Kelly coached one year at Oregon and called “the best quarterback in the draft.” Kelly has denied it on the basis that he would never mortgage a draft to acquire one player – even one he loves.
Browns connection: At NFL owners meetings last month, Rams coach Jeff Fisher fairly confirmed reports that the Browns offered the No. 19 pick for Bradford. He said the Eagles’ trade offer appealed more because he wanted a veteran quarterback, Foles, to step in immediately as his starter. The Browns have persisted in pursuing Bradford, however. Kelly said on March 11 that he received a first-round offer for Bradford after acquiring him, but declined to identify the team. And this week, two Internet reports said the Browns talked to the Eagles about a swap for Bradford involving Manziel and a first-round pick.
The cost: On a video blog, Jason Cole of BleacherReport.com said the Eagles had no interest in Manziel. In order for Kelly to position himself to acquire Mariota, he would need at least the Browns’ No. 12 pick – and that still wouldn’t guarantee him the currency to land Mariota. Kelly probably would also want to recoup the 2016 second-round pick he gave to the Rams in the deal for Bradford.
The contract factor: Bradford has one more year left on his original rookie contract and is scheduled to make approximately $13 million in 2015. It has been reported that any team that trades for Bradford would want to negotiate a long-term deal; otherwise, Bradford could become a free agent in 2016. However, there has been no effort on the part of the Eagles or Bradford to secure a new deal. Both sides have incentive to wait. The Eagles want to make sure Bradford’s twice-repaired left knee can withstand 16 games. And Bradford wants to improve his value by posting big numbers in Kelly’s quarterback-friendly offense. Reports that Bradford wouldn’t be agreeable to signing a long-term deal with the Browns are not off base, but it’s for the same reason he won’t sign one with the Eagles. He wants to bet on himself for a possible bigger deal than he can get now.
The risk: Bradford’s injury history is a major concern. He had shoulder surgery in his final season at Oklahoma. In his second NFL season with the Rams, he missed six games with a high ankle sprain. He then missed nine games in 2013 with a torn left ACL and 16 in 2014 after tearing it again in a preseason game in Cleveland.
Probability scale (1 to 10 with 10 being the best chance): Two.