Browns: Marcus Mariota and Johnny Manziel? Sure!
The Cleveland Browns have stated that they have a need at their quarterback position. Last night we have you our list of Top 15, in order, QBs who are, or might be, available via the NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency or the trade market. (Highly recommend the post to get a good idea of what options, or lack of, are out there.) Check that out here (New Window).
The top QB on our list was Marcus Mariota, the Heisman Trophy winning Oregon quarterback. QB guru George Whitfield, whose pupil Kevin O’Connell worked with both Mariota and Browns QB Johnny Manziel, said he could see both QBs on the Browns roster next year, via Cleveland.com:
"“It’s a very real situation, it’s always going to be a business and bottom-line situation,” Whitfield told Northeast Ohio Media Group at the NFL combine. “And here they are with two first-round picks, and there are some talented young guys in this draft again that can play quarterback, and if they make that decision to bring him in, that’s big for him to get a chance to go in and compete with Johnny.”"
There are some very real concerns about the Browns taking Mariota:
- How much will they have to give up to move up and get him?
- Is it a good idea to invest 2 straight 1st Round picks on the same position?
- Is Mariota good enough to lead the team and take another risk after last year?
- Can the Browns devote enough attention to both QBs to develop them right?
- How will Manziel and Mariota react to competing with each other?
Whitfield tried to answer that last question:
"“That’s going to be a definite wakeup call for Johnny to get up and go back and work hard to be who you believe you are, so that’s a real scenario,” said Whitfield, who’s worked with Manziel for the past three years. “It’s going to be interesting to see how that plays out.”"
He goes on to compare the possibility of the two together to RG3 and Kirk Cousins in Washington. While both of those players are talented A) It hasn’t really worked out that well, B) Cousins wasn’t a Heisman Trophy winner or high profile and C) There was a clear favorite in RG3 with Cousins prepared as a backup.
The two most important questions, in order, for the Browns are 1) Is Marcus Mariota rated by the team and their scouts as a player who could lead the team to the playoffs and be a franchise guy? and, if so, 2) How much is that worth?
A few weeks ago we asked followers on Twitter what they would give up for a Franchise QB. The overwhelming answer was clear: Whatever it takes. That means, if the Browns think Mariota (or Jameis Winston but that is another story) is that guy, they should move heaven and earth to get him. In this case “heaven and earth” could mean different things.
If the Browns need to get into the top 2 picks to get Mariota then it will cost their two first this year and likely their first next year. That is a high cost, especially when you take into account that the Browns schedule is tough and Mariota, or Manziel, still need to develop quite a bit. Again, if they are confident that he is THE guy, it is a small price to pay.
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If Mariota falls, which we expected for awhile but talk at the Combine is starting to change our mind, then that price starts to change. The St. Louis Rams at #10 are the lowest we could see Mariota falling, if Winston falls it could be farther. For the Browns to move up to #9 it could cost a 3rd rounder and maybe a pick next year. A much more palatable trade.
At this point the Browns seem to be acting as if they are unable to rely on Manziel for anything. He didn’t show much on the field, and from all reports looked terrible in practice, and has to deal with his personal issues. That makes drafting Marcus Mariota, if he grades well for the team, a no brainer. If Manziel is a bust they moved on quickly. If he is able to turn it around, the team has two good young QBs after having none for decades.
What do you think of Marcus Mariota and Johnny Manziel on the same team?