The Browns are set up for success with two first-round picks in 2015. However, their recent history of having multiple selections in the first round has been tragically bad, writes Pat McManamon of ESPN.com.
Gil Brandt of NFL.com ranked the Browns as both the worst and second-worst in terms of teams with multiple first-round picks since 2010. Both Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden in 2012 were off the team within two years, and last year’s draft of Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel has gotten off to a terrible start.
Here are some more notes from the Browns:
- The Browns have reportedly moved on from Manziel, but McManamon believes that the statement from Chris Mortensen was taken out of context. McManamon writes that Mortensen was giving his opinion, and that the meaning was that the Browns’ front office was not considering Manziel as an option until he comes out of rehab and they re-evaluate him.
- McManamon also writes that while it is unlikely, he would not completely rule out Manziel as being a part of a draft-day trade. However, he believes the team still wants to give him a shot to become the face of the franchise.
- While quarterback is thought of as an option early in the NFL Draft, the team will only target a player if they are sold on his abilities, writes McManamon. The team could still find an interesting option next offseason, with a number of intriguing quarterbacks set to enter the draft.
- For Browns’ fans holding out hope that Cardale Jones enters the supplemental draft, McManamon has bad news. He writes that Jones would have to quit school to become eligible for the supplemental draft, and even then there would be no guarantee that the Browns would be able to draft him.
- Asked by a fan which Browns’ jersey to invest in, Tony Grossi of ESPN has difficulty picking players he is confident will be with the team for the next five years. He picks Joe Haden and Joel Bitonio as the best bets to be with the team long term.
- The Browns didn’t lose any draft picks during the Ray Farmer scandal, but that doesn’t mean the team will not suffer with Farmer suspended. Grossi writes that the Browns made approximately 25 minor transactions during the first four weeks of 2014, and without Farmer those decisions will be in the hands of an interim general manager.