[www.cleveland.com]
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Houston Texans finished the season with 14 straight losses. Their 2-14 record earned them the first pick in the 2014 NFL draft. But with more than four months until draft day, Texans owner Bob McNair says his team is willing to move out of the top spot despite their glaring need for a new quarterback.
"Maybe we'll trade down and still get a quarterback that can do the job and get an outstanding defensive player," McNair said last week. "It's an exciting time. Everything's a moving target. Lot of different pieces."
The draft class hasn't been finalized. New underclassmen are making their declarations every day. UCF quarterback Blake Bortles is the latest to announce his intentions, with still more to come.
Quarterbacks will likely dominate the early selections. The Texans (first pick), Jaguars (third pick), Raiders (fifth pick) and Vikings (eighth pick) are all drafting in the Top 10 and need a quarterback. After yesterday's playoff debacle, the Cincinnati Bengals could also go searching for a new signal caller.
Then of course there are the Browns - the team that has had so many different QBs since 1999 that an ever-changing jersey has been created.
The Browns front office has racked up the frequent flyer miles traveling across the country, doing their homework on this group of QBs. With Jason Campbell, Brian Hoyer and Brandon Weeden currently listed on the quarterback depth chart, finding a new quarterback is near the top of the Browns' priority list.
With the fourth pick, they seem to be positioned well if that's the direction they chose to go in. However, the QB class was reduced after UCLA's potential star - Brett Hundley - decided against entering early.
It could mean the Browns are once again left without a seat when the final note plays in another game of off-season quarterback musical chairs.
Whether the Texans stance changes by the draft is anyone's guess. For now they are willing to do business if some team comes calling with an offer. Could the Browns be one of the teams to pick up the phone? Could they make a bold move to ensure leaving the draft with the top QB?
Teams may not completely abide by the NFL Draft trade value chart. The Washington Redskins blew it to pieces when they dealt numerous picks for the right to move up four slots in 2012 and draft Robert Griffin III, last year's Offensive Rookie of the Year. But as you can see below it would take the Browns and Texans swapping the first-overall and fourth-overall picks as a start. Along with that, Cleveland would have to give Houston its second first-rounder that the Browns received in the early-season Trent Richardson deal as well as a second-rounder.
Is that price worth it for the Browns to move up and select the top quarterback - Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater, Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel or Bortles?
NFL Draft Value Chart
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Houston Texans finished the season with 14 straight losses. Their 2-14 record earned them the first pick in the 2014 NFL draft. But with more than four months until draft day, Texans owner Bob McNair says his team is willing to move out of the top spot despite their glaring need for a new quarterback.
"Maybe we'll trade down and still get a quarterback that can do the job and get an outstanding defensive player," McNair said last week. "It's an exciting time. Everything's a moving target. Lot of different pieces."
The draft class hasn't been finalized. New underclassmen are making their declarations every day. UCF quarterback Blake Bortles is the latest to announce his intentions, with still more to come.
Quarterbacks will likely dominate the early selections. The Texans (first pick), Jaguars (third pick), Raiders (fifth pick) and Vikings (eighth pick) are all drafting in the Top 10 and need a quarterback. After yesterday's playoff debacle, the Cincinnati Bengals could also go searching for a new signal caller.
Then of course there are the Browns - the team that has had so many different QBs since 1999 that an ever-changing jersey has been created.
The Browns front office has racked up the frequent flyer miles traveling across the country, doing their homework on this group of QBs. With Jason Campbell, Brian Hoyer and Brandon Weeden currently listed on the quarterback depth chart, finding a new quarterback is near the top of the Browns' priority list.
With the fourth pick, they seem to be positioned well if that's the direction they chose to go in. However, the QB class was reduced after UCLA's potential star - Brett Hundley - decided against entering early.
It could mean the Browns are once again left without a seat when the final note plays in another game of off-season quarterback musical chairs.
Whether the Texans stance changes by the draft is anyone's guess. For now they are willing to do business if some team comes calling with an offer. Could the Browns be one of the teams to pick up the phone? Could they make a bold move to ensure leaving the draft with the top QB?
Teams may not completely abide by the NFL Draft trade value chart. The Washington Redskins blew it to pieces when they dealt numerous picks for the right to move up four slots in 2012 and draft Robert Griffin III, last year's Offensive Rookie of the Year. But as you can see below it would take the Browns and Texans swapping the first-overall and fourth-overall picks as a start. Along with that, Cleveland would have to give Houston its second first-rounder that the Browns received in the early-season Trent Richardson deal as well as a second-rounder.
Is that price worth it for the Browns to move up and select the top quarterback - Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater, Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel or Bortles?
NFL Draft Value Chart
