Let the bidding for #2 overall begin

@SportsCenter: Browns offer two 1st-round picks to Titans for No. 2 overall selection, where they would plan to take Marcus Mariota. (via @PatMcManamon)

Leave it to the Browns to give up years of draft picks to never find a good QB.

This means the Jets will not be getting Mariota. Either the Titans want him and won't trade the pick, or they won't trade it to the Jets, who can't match what the Browns are offering.

Joe Banner‏@JoeBanner13
No doubt in my mind Eagles will make a serious run at Mariota. Going from 20-2 is expensive, but let's not act like it can't happen.

AndyJohnson said:

Leave it to the Browns to give up years of draft picks to never find a good QB.

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I think they are being smart. The downside is the they continue to really suck, finishing with 4 or 5 wins every year- that is, if they are wrong about the QB. If they do nothing, they still won't win eight games with the QBs they have in place. You might as well go for it; just name the top 12 QBs and you essentially have just named the playoff teams. People who think you need to build the rest of the team and take what you are given before getting your franchise QB are delusional and behind by about ten years. If there's a chance to get a superstar quarterback, take it. Your great offensive tackle, wide receiver, or outside linebacker isn't going to get you much in the win column.

I do think they should look at their player development, too, though. It can't just be bad luck that every QB they pick ends up failing so fast.

I still love the idea of a 3-team trade on this. Something like (not necessarily limited to):

Bradford + 1st round pick from Philly to Cleveland
2 first round picks from Cleveland to Tennessee
#2 pick from Tennessee to Philly

I'm not saying it's a good/bad trade for anyone. I just want to see what Chip Kelly can do if he's got everything he wants on the field.

I don't know enough about Mariota's specifics to tell you if he's the real deal, but at that price he better be.

I hope it happens. Only cause it would make the Browns 1 less team likely to draft Danny Shelton with one of their firsts. Chargers is another team in the way, though.

AndyJohnson said:

Leave it to the Browns to give up years of draft picks to never find a good QB.

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Also leave it to them to go out and announce what they're offering for it.

Does anyone think Manziel is worth anything to another team?

I wonder if a team would offer a 4th or 5th for him.

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

This means the Jets will not be getting Mariota. Either the Titans want him and won't trade the pick, or they won't trade it to the Jets, who can't match what the Browns are offering.

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I wouldn't agree that the Jets can't match that offer. I think #6 + Muhammad Wilkerson would be a great starting point for a trade. The Titans could get a stud DL and still get a great player at #6 (plus anything else the Jets would have to give up).

patsinthesnow said:

Does anyone think Manziel is worth anything to another team?

I wonder if a team would offer a 4th or 5th for him.

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Cowboys ?

Sicilian said:

I don't know enough about Mariota's specifics to tell you if he's the real deal, but at that price he better be.

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Is it that much? The Bills essentially made the same deal to get Sammy Watkins last year? If Watkins is what the Bills think he is, the Bills possibly get one extra win per season. If Mariota is who the Browns think he is, it's the difference of 5+ wins per season.

Highly rated QBs are low in supply... gotta go for it, and if it doesn't work out, wait to reload on your draft picks and try again.

I d0n't even fault the Redskins for trying with RGIII. Everyone acts like they'd be a Super Bowl contender right now had they held on to their draft picks.

patsinthesnow said:

Does anyone think Manziel is worth anything to another team?

I wonder if a team would offer a 4th or 5th for him.

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They were floating the idea of Manziel being traded to the Jets. I would love that. Manziel in New York City would be a massive dumpster fire.

The Browns coveting Mariota should destroy all value of the #2 overall pick for Tennessee. Nobody is worse at QB evaluation.

I wouldn't be surprised if it gets so bad that Tenn turns down the 2nd first round pick just to escape from Mariota now.

patsinthesnow said:

Does anyone think Manziel is worth anything to another team?

I wonder if a team would offer a 4th or 5th for him.

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Someone would take him I'm sure for <4th. He is talented. Just needs a major attitude adjustment. Jury is still out on physical attributes (height, arm strength) being at an NFL level.

Wilfork#75 said:

I wouldn't agree that the Jets can't match that offer. I think #6 + Muhammad Wilkerson would be a great starting point for a trade. The Titans could get a stud DL and still get a great player at #6 (plus anything else the Jets would have to give up).

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Isn't Wilkerson a one-year rental player right now who is going to demand a gigantic contract after this season? Titans would be smart to take the extra first round pick. I'm thinking the offers for Wilkerson are mid-round at best; there's now way a team would give up a first for him right now, which is what the Titans would be doing.

Now, if the Jets offered #6, next year's first rounder, and Wilkerson, that would be something else, but I doubt they would do it, and if they did, I think the Browns have more ammo in a gun fight.

Deus Irae said:

I still love the idea of a 3-team trade on this. Something like (not necessarily limited to):

Bradford + 1st round pick from Philly to Cleveland
2 first round picks from Cleveland to Tennessee
#2 pick from Tennessee to Philly

I'm not saying it's a good/bad trade for anyone. I just want to see what Chip Kelly can do if he's got everything he wants on the field.

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I agree, I want to see a trade just for the excitement of it. The best one I have seen for the Eagles is:



Cleveland gets their QB and can still take Danny Shelton at #12

Eagles get Mariota with only giving up their 1st round pick and 3 players they have on the trading block anyway

Tennessee gets a stud DL who could be as good, if not better than Leonard Williams. A serviceable LBer and two first round picks in prime position to fill their biggest needs, OT and CB (DJ Humphries and Kevin Johnson?)

And to think many analysts were giving the Browns mad props for stealing Johnny Football so late in the first round.

Apparently, no one won the Trent Richardson trade. The Colts got Richardson. The Browns got Manziel. The Browns have wasted a ton of top picks related to Richardson.

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

I think they are being smart. The downside is the they continue to really suck, finishing with 4 or 5 wins every year- that is, if they are wrong about the QB. If they do nothing, they still won't win eight games with the QBs they have in place. You might as well go for it; just name the top 12 QBs and you essentially have just named the playoff teams. People who think you need to build the rest of the team and take what you are given before getting your franchise QB are delusional and behind by about ten years. If there's a chance to get a superstar quarterback, take it. Your great offensive tackle, wide receiver, or outside linebacker isn't going to get you much in the win column.

I do think they should look at their player development, too, though. It can't just be bad luck that every QB they pick ends up failing so fast.

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They supposedly solved the problem when they picked Manziel. Before that they blew a pick on Weeden. Now they will trade a kings ransom (it will take more than the first offer) to draft strike 3.
Building a team and developing a QB is the way to go. Spending everything you have to get a QB who then has to carry a weak team is a fail.