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Cleveland Browns: Team may look to add McCarron and Darnold

By Randy Gurzi

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 29: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans runs from Tyquan Lewis #59 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second half of the 82nd Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between USC and Ohio State at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. Ohio State won 24-7. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 29: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans runs from Tyquan Lewis #59 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second half of the 82nd Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between USC and Ohio State at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. Ohio State won 24-7. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /
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With a big need at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, one media member is suggesting they could add a veteran and a rookie with the No. 1 draft pick

A lot of the offseason discussion for the Cleveland Browns has centered around what they will do under center. Their lack of a quality starting quarterback has been a huge reason for their 1-31 record over the past two seasons.

If they ever hope to become a serious competitor again, they need to fix that position before anything else. The speculation has gone crazy since the Browns have multiple options.

They have more cap space than anyone, which allows them to offer free agents whatever they want in terms of salary. Cleveland also has the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, so they could take the best prospect as well.

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One media member thinks they will do both.

Benjamin Albright, a co-host on AM1340 and 104.7 FM in Denver tweeted out that Cleveland could plan to sign free agent A.J. McCarron and use the top pick on Sam Darnold out of USC.

McCarron just recently won a grievance which allowed him to be an unrestricted free agent. The dots were immediately connected between him and the Browns. McCarron played under head coach Hue Jackson, while he was the offensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Then there was the failed trade. The Bengals and Browns agreed to a deal that would have brought McCarron to Cleveland at the 2017 trade deadline, but a paperwork mistake nixed that deal. Now they could find a way to bring Jackson a player he obviously trusts, while saving their draft picks.

In this situation the hope would be that McCarron would serve as a bridge quarterback while Darnold learns the ropes. Darnold has immense talent, but is still raw as he had just two years as a starter for the Trojans.

This move wouldn’t be unprecedented. The Chicago Bears signed Mike Glennon in the 2017 offseason and then traded up in the draft for Mitchell Trubisky, who had just one season as a starter for North Carolina.

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With the need at quarterback so dire in Cleveland, this may in fact be the smartest way to approach the situation.

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