The Cleveland Browns are anything but convinced that Johnny Manziel is their franchise quarterback of the future.
In the wake of Manziel’s horrendous NFL starting debut against the Cincinnati Bengals last week, head coach Mike Pettine has openly admitted that the team will still have doubts about Manziel even if he plays well over the final two games of the regular season. Do the doubts run so deep that the Browns already have their sights set on another Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback?
According to Mark Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Browns have kept a close eye on Marcus Mariota. And if they become even more discouraged by Manziel over the next week or so, Cabot notes that the Browns will “consider every possibility for an upgrade,” which could include trading up in an attempt to draft the Oregon star.
Cabot speculates that the Browns would have to trade their two first-round picks and a first-rounder from 2016 to move up — similar to the price the Washington Redskins paid to move from No. 6 to No. 2 to draft Robert Griffin III.
If Manziel doesn’t show enough flashes of the Johnny Football he was at Texas A&M over these next two games, the Browns might even consider trading him and cutting their losses. With Cowboys owner Jerry Jones admitting on several occasions earlier this season that he regrets passing on Manziel at No. 16, perhaps he’d still be willing to part with a pick for him. The Browns haven’t made a huge financial investment in Manziel, and wouldn’t be out much from a financial standpoint if he doesn’t work out.
While Browns general manager Ray Farmer has always said he explores every possible opportunity at every position, it sure seems like the team has a bit of buyer’s remorse with Johnny Football. Teams don’t typically consider drafting quarterbacks in the first round in consecutive years unless they’re extremely unhappy with their initial investment.
It’s far too early to label Manziel a bust, but he has obviously discouraged the Browns. Given what the former Texas A&M star recently admitted about his season-long practice habits, that is not really a surprise. Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers is a critical one for Manziel.
