The Cleveland Browns are said to be interested in moving up in the NFL draft to select Marcus Mariota, and they have reportedly made the Tennessee Titans an offer that could be a good starting point for negotiations.
Pat MacManamon of ESPN.com reports that the Browns have made an offer to the Titans that includes Cleveland’s two first round picks — No. 12 and No. 19 overall — in exchange for Tennessee’s No. 2 overall pick.
MacManamon also notes that a source within the Titans organization has denied that such an offer is on the table.
While there has been no shortage of conflicting reports regarding teams wanting to move up for Mariota, a lot of the recent talk has centered on the Browns. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday that Cleveland has also had discussions with the Washington Redskins about moving up to No. 5.
If it’s Mariota the Browns are targeting, moving up to No. 5 might not be enough. Mariota’s camp supposedly believes the Philadelphia Eagles and San Diego Chargers are also trying to swing a deal with the Titans for the No. 2 overall pick, though that information could be a way for Mariota’s agents to boost their client’s perceived value.
The Browns drafted Johnny Manziel in the first round last year, and multiple Browns players have praised Manziel for improvement he has shown since leaving rehab. Despite that, Cleveland general manager Ray Farmer has been open about wanting to upgrade at the quarterback position.
One conclusion that can be drawn from the rampant speculation is that the Titans are in an incredible position of strength. If they want multiple first-round picks this year, they can probably work something out with the Browns. If they want a proven NFL quarterback plus picks, the Eagles and Chargers might be able to offer that.
