The Cleveland Browns made headlines on Wednesday when the team traded Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts for a first-round draft pick. With Cleveland trading its only offensive weapon two weeks into the season, the Browns appear ready to tank for Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater or Jadeveon Clowney in next year's NFL draft.
Cleveland's trade of the 2012 No. 3 overall pick, barely one year after drafting him, came as a huge surprise - especially so early in the season. Although the Browns nabbed a first-round pick from the Colts, the draft selection is likely to fall somewhere in the twenties.
Refuting how it looks, Browns CEO Joe Banner insisted the team has no intentions of tanking for a better draft pick.
"We're going to continue to play hard and do everything we can to win every week," said Banner, via CBS Sports.
The trade gives the Browns another asset for the draft, a pick to add talent or bait a deal, but the loss of the team's only weapon all but guarantees Cleveland's own pick will fall in within the top five.
The outward appearance of the trade indicates Cleveland wants to go in another direction under new general manager Mike Lombardi and new coach Rob Chudzinski.
Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden may not be the answer for Cleveland under center. Manziel or Bridgewater might. Both are expected to headline next year's quarterback class, but it's too early to determine where they might fall.
If Manziel or Bridgewater isn't a top pick, and depending on how miserable the Brown's season turns out, Cleveland could wind up with Clowney and one of the quarterbacks - two pieces for the franchise to rebuild around.
Regardless of if Cleveland tanks or not, the 2014 NFL draft will determine whether the Richardson trade was bone-headed or genius.
