Another suitor for Mariota trade … Jason Cole of the Bleacher Report is reporting that Cleveland is thinking about trying to make a play to try and move up in the opening round of the 2015 draft in order to acquire Oregon QB Marcus Mariota. According to the report, the Browns have been considering the option even before it was announced that QB Johnny Manziel, whom Cleveland selected with the 22nd pick overall in last year’s draft, is in a substance abuse program. And with a pair of picks in this year’s opening round – the 12th pick and the 19th acquired from Buffalo in the trade involving WR Sammy Watkins at the 2014 draft, the Browns have the ammunition to move up, but it may be they will have to move into the top two picks to ensure getting a shot at Mariota. It has been reported earlier that Philadelphia was also interested in moving up from the 20th pick overall to re-unite head coach and de facto GM Chip Kelly with Mariota, his former QB at Oregon. In fact, because the Eagles are apparently willing to include promising veteran QB Nick Foles in a deal to get up to get Mariota, they may actually be better situated than the Browns with their two #1. What this all may means is that if indeed both the Browns and Eagles are interested in acquiring Mariota they likely won’t be able to sit and back and wait for his to drop a few spots. Meanwhile, it does not appear at this time as if the Browns have the same interest in Florida State QB Jameis Winston, the other top QB with top 5 potential in this year’s draft, no doubt in part given all the issues they have had with Manziel this season.
