Cleveland Browns Rumors: Team Could Make A Play For Marcus Mariota Or Sam Bradford, Johnny Manziel Not In The Plans


The Cleveland Browns are rumored to be moving on from Johnny Manziel, looking at a trade that would allow them to land either Marcus Mariota or Sam Bradford.

The Browns have been officially supporting Manziel as he seeks treatment in a rehab facility this offseason, but his off-the-field hijinks and spotty play his rookie year reportedly has the team backing off. While it was once hoped he could take over the starting role from Brian Hoyer, it now looks to many experts as if Johnny Manziel isn’t in the team’s plans at all.

Cleveland.com reporter Mary Kay Cabot said she believes the Browns could go with offseason acquisition Josh McCown as their starter, but sees the team trying to make a splash with a new quarterback.

“I think the Browns are fully prepared to start McCown this year, but they will continue to look for chances to upgrade the position. I think they’ll try to trade up to draft Marcus Mariota, and I also think they could make another run at Sam Bradford on draft day. If they don’t land one of those two, I do think McCown will be their man in 2015. They are also big on Connor Shaw, who could start games for them this season if necessary. As for Manziel, they’ll see what happens when he gets out of rehab soon. At this point, I don’t think they can get much in a trade. Maybe Jerry Jones is still interested.”

There have been plenty of rumors this offseason connecting the Cleveland Browns to Marcus Mariota. Sources have said the team is interested in moving up to acquire the Oregon quarterback, and they have two first-round picks at their disposal to try making a move. The Browns acquired the first round pick of the Buffalo Bills in the trade for Sammy Watkins last year.

The Browns also appeared to tip their hand a bit regarding their desire to land Mariota. The team hired Kevin O’Connell, who had been working independently with Mariota, as their new quarterback coach. This gave them an inside track to Mariota at a time when other teams were barred from talking to him.

The Cleveland Browns were also rumored to be coveting Sam Bradford, as well. The team reportedly offered the St. Louis Rams a first-round draft pick for the quarterback, but the Rams instead opted to swap Bradford straight up for Nick Foles of the Philadelphia Eagles.

[Image via Getty Images/ Steve Dykes]

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