Rumors: Browns looking to trade up for Marcus Mariota
By Paul Noel
The 2015 NFL Draft is three weeks away and the rumor mill is hard at work. The Browns of course have already been linked to several rumors, most recently of note is the rumor the Browns were in talks to trade Johnny Manziel to the Eagles for Sam Bradford. It didn’t take long for that rumor to fade and for another one to eclipse it, today according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk the Browns are truly interested in using their two first-round picks in 2015 to move up and get Marcus Mariota, per multiple league sources.
"After burning a first-round pick in 2012 on Brandon Weeden and a first-round pick in 2014 on Johnny Manziel, the Browns are truly interested in using their two first-round picks in 2015 to move up and get Marcus Mariota, per multiple league sources. – Mike Florio"
Like most of the rumors floating around there is limited information on the “sources” and Mike Florio doesn’t go into any detail regarding the “multiple league sources”. The first impression of the report is simply that its simply another report of circumstance. Ray Farmer was well known to have liked Marcus Mariota last year before he decide to remain at Oregon, instead of declaring for the draft. This latest reprot comes off like circular reporting that is going around the NFL to get someone to bite and move up ahead of the usual suspects to draft Mariota. My speculation aside, the obvious spot speculation for a trade partner is the second pick that resides with Tennessee.
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The Titans have shown interest in drafting Mariota for themselves, but nearly every top five team is taking a look at the Oregon quarterback. Florio does point out that if true it’s hard to know whether the No. 12 and No. 19 picks would be enough to get Mariota, especially since in the 2014 draft the price for the Buffalo Bills to jump from No. 9 to No. 4 to acquire Sammy Watkins was a future first-round pick (2015 19) and a future fourth-round pick (115).
If the Browns don’t get a deal done with Tennessee and Mariota slips past the second pick, the Washington Redskins would be the natural second for a trade to occur at the fifth pick. The Redskins of course have also expressed interest in taking Mariota for themselves. Other teams of note that have been tied thus far to Mariota in the upcoming draft are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets, Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.
Although the Browns have the trade ammunition to move up to perhaps the second or fifth pick it makes more sense to stay put and get the best players available and fill needs on the roster. There is a great chance that the Browns have a shot to land a top flight receiver Amari Cooper, Kevin White or DeVante Parker with the 12th overall pick, and of course they could land an impact defensive player in the 12 to 19 range like Washington’s Danny Shelton. Trading up will only limit the Browns chance of landing quality help early in this draft class, and it only demonstrates that the clubs front office is willing to hit the reset button on the quarterback position for the third times in four years on draft day.
What do you think of the rumors the Browns are trying to trade up for Marcus Mariota?