The Browns don’t appear willing to simply give away Josh McCown, as Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports indicates that Cleveland is demanding “no less than fourth-round pick” for the veteran quarterback. The Cowboys, the club that’s been most heavily linked to McCown, aren’t willing to trade “anything of value,” per Robinson, who suggests that Dallas would only part with a pick in the sixth round or later.
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The Cowboys’ depth chart behind Tony Romo was already thin as the team headed into training camp, and became even more so when backup Kellen Moore suffered a leg injury during a practice session that will sideline him for three-to-four months. Dallas was thought to have interest in free agent Nick Foles before he signed with the Chiefs, and were reportedly considering other options such as Mike Glennon (who, like McCown, would’ve have to been traded for), Jimmy Clausen, and Josh Freeman.
The Browns, meanwhile, have seemingly braced McCown for a possible deal, as a report last week indicated that the club had spoken with McCown about the mechanics of a trade. Cleveland has already named Robert Griffin III its starting quarterback, and while there is certainly value in retaining a high-end reserve, the team’s reluctance to deal McCown could simply be posturing in the hopes that they can net a higher return. The Browns used a 2016 third-round pick on USC quarterback Cody Kessler, and signed fellow backup Austin Davis to an extension last season, so unless the club wants to keep four signal-callers on the roster, there doesn’t appear to be room for McCown.
While the Browns boast depth at QB, the Cowboys do not, as they only other available options behind Romo are fourth-round rookie Dak Prescott and 2015 undrafted free agent Jameill Showers, neither of whom has ever attempted an NFL pass. As such, it seems unfathomable that Dallas won’t look to acquire a veteran before the season begins, and if it looks to the free agent market, the club could consider Michael Vick, Matt Flynn, Tarvaris Jackson, Charlie Whitehurst, T.J. Yates, or a number of other players who still remain unsigned.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
6th round or later…. Why not just say 6th or 7th? Lol.
Agree that McCown is not worth a 4th, but Hue knows that he’ll need a #2 QB this season. In this league, you don’t get much more than a 2-year window as a head coach and Hue wants some immediate wins. Kessler and Davis need to stay off the field. I think with Sashi/Podesta asking for a number 4 it is simply supporting Hue on the sideline.
Based on what we saw from RGIII Friday the Browns would be wise to keep him.