Daily Dawg Tags: Cleveland Browns trading up for a quarterback in Round 1?
By Randy Gurzi
The Daily Dawg Tags bring you all the Cleveland Browns news you need to know, including one mock draft where they trade back into Round 1 for a quarterback
Before the 2022 season kicks off, the Cleveland Browns will have to make a decision about their quarterback. Sure, they say Baker Mayfield is the guy — but what else would they say?
He’s under contract for the coming season and could be the starter — so saying they’re exploring their options does them no good. However, they are exploring their options. If not, general manager Andrew Berry isn’t doing his job, especially after the way things fell apart in 2021.
One of those options could be to trade back into the first round — after drafting a wide receiver at No. 13 — and landing a player to groom in case Mayfield continues to struggle.
A look at such a scenario can be found in today’s Daily Dawg Tags.
Cleveland Browns News
"“The ideal situation would be to grab Willis, but he had a big Senior Bowl week and got very hot in draft world. In the mock draft consensus, Pickett is 10, Willis is 15, and Corral is 19. But Howell is 33 and Ridder is 54 and I think it’s worth jumping up to get one. Ridder is big (6-foot-4), smooth and smart, and he throws well, but he can also run. I think he has a chance to be a franchise quarterback. He’d be worth trying, if he’s around this long.”"
Lesmerises has the Browns trading the No. 44 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft as well as the Browns second-round pick in 2023 to move up for Ridder. He does add that Ridder would be a backup to Baker Mayfield in 2022, but that could lead to problems in itself.
As for the feasibility, it could make sense. Sure, there’s a huge faction still behind No. 6 but 2021 was ugly and this front office did not draft him. That means they will (not might, but will) turn over every stone this offseason and if someone they think can be a franchise guy falls, a move could be in the cards.
Kyler Murray drama could be part of a fast, wild QB offseason for NFL — Jared Mueller, Browns Wire
"“While Cleveland is unlikely to be involved, big moves around the league could have an impact on them. Does a receiver or defensive star ask for a trade because the team moved their QB? Does a free agent look the Browns way instead of, for example, the Packers because Rodgers is gone?”"
Mueller does bring up an interesting way of looking at things. Could the potential moves at quarterback throughout the league help the Browns? They need more playmakers and if a star player is suddenly unhappy, it would make sense for Cleveland to gauge some interest.
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