Is Marcus Mariota worth the price for Cleveland Browns?

To say that this has been a bad month for the Cleveland Browns would be an understatement. Johnny Manziel has entered rehab after a tumultuous rookie season, star WR Josh Gordon is likely facing a one-year suspension from the NFL, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has skipped town and 2014 starting QB Brian Hoyer is a free agent. The Cleveland Browns need something to cheer about again, and according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, it could be Marcus Mariota.

Cole cites sources within the Browns organization and says that there has been consideration of moving up in the 2015 NFL Draft for Oregon’s Marcus Mariota or FSU’s Jameis Winston. The Browns are reported to prefer Mariota, which makes sense given their current predicament. While Winston comes with several red flags on his resume, much like Johnny Manziel did one short year ago, Mariota represents more of a high-character option that could set their QB position straight.

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Jimmy Haslam is not the most patient owner in sports, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see the Browns aggressively pursuing resolve at the game’s most important position. Cleveland took the ultimate gamble selecting the champagne-fueled Manziel with the 22nd pick in last year’s draft, and although it’s incredibly early to be giving up on him, an NFL team cannot afford to miss any opportunity to find their franchise quarterback.

Manziel’s rookie year was simply a mess. It began with him falling asleep under a skirted table during an autograph session at the NFL Rookie Sympsium after a night of partying with rapper Drake. Following some speed bumps along the way, his season ended with Manziel missing a treatment for his hamstring injury at the Browns facility after a night of partying. Admitting himself to rehab is a positive first step that he should be applauded for, but counting on Manziel at this point involves too great a risk.

Enter the Marcus Mariota rumor, which isn’t as wild as one might think. Cleveland holds the 12th and 19th picks in the 2015 Draft, which alone could help leapfrog the Browns up to the region of the 5th overall pick. Add in a 2nd-round selection or a package of mid-rounders and the Browns could, theoretically, push their way into the top-4. With the QB-needy Buccaneers and Titans picking first and second, something may have to give.

For a moment, let’s ignore the parameters of a potential trade and work on the assumption that something falls into place which allows Cleveland to select Marcus Mariota. Is Cleveland a good situation for Mariota, and perhaps more importantly, is it a good situation for any young quarterback?

The Browns boast an enviable offensive line along with two high-ceiling young running backs in Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell. The issue for any incoming QB arises, however, with the weapons on the outside. Josh Gordon could very well be done for the 2015 season in Cleveland, if not longer, and the depth behind him is underwhelming.

Miles Austin has hit free agency, leaving Andrew Hawkins, Travis Benjamin and Taylor Gabriel as the primary options in the passing game. None of the three are listed above 5’10, and in a perfect world, they would see most of their snaps as slot receivers on the inside. Cleveland has a gaping hole on the outside, and desperately needs a big-bodied target to help whichever young QB takes the reigns in 2015.

At tight end, the Browns are losing Jordan Cameron to free agency. Having a quality TE option for a young QB to use as a security blanket can be vital, but even if Cleveland can retain the supremely athletic Cameron, he is one concussion away from the end of his NFL career. These limitations will hinder any QB heading to the Browns, but how would they impact Marcus Mariota specifically?

Mariota put up massive numbers at Oregon, but did so in an offense that often gave him wide-open receiving options on short and intermediate routes. I don’t see the skill position players in place to give this to Mariota in Cleveland, and despite the quality of his arm strength, I wouldn’t want to ask him to throw into tight areas with such small receiving options, all while learning a new offensive scheme. The limited WR options could also allow opponents to slip a safety into the box to spy Mariota, further smothering his athletic playing style.

If this sounds familiar, it should. This is much like what happened to Johnny Manziel in his brief, disastrous appearances of 2014. Mariota is a better QB prospect than Manziel was entering the draft, but the Browns would be taking him into a situation worse than the one they brought Manziel into. This leads me to believe that Cleveland should only trade up for a franchise QB in this draft if they also plan on surrounding him with help. Not veteran free agents and spare parts, but real weapons.

Trading into the top-5 isn’t free, though, and the resources forfeited in a deal like that would further hamper the team’s ability to draft more offensive talent. This is problematic, given that Cleveland is low on the list of desirable free agent destinations for offensive players.

Starting QB is one of the few positions in sports that is deserving of an overpay. If the Cleveland Browns go through the pre-draft process and truly believe that Mariota is their man for the next 10+ years, fine. This cannot be a standalone move, though, and the addition of any rookie QB must be done as one piece of a larger offensive overhaul in Cleveland.

Next: 2015 NFL Mock Draft: Browns go wide receiver

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