It didn't take long for reports to come out that quarterback Josh McCown was on the trade block after the Cleveland Browns landed former Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III in free agency.
The veteran quarterback is heading into his 14th NFL season, and many expect the Browns to release him should they not find a trade partner. Despite the quarterback chaos in Cleveland over the past year, McCown has managed to say all the right things and is what many general managers and head coaches look for in a quarterback, as he puts the team first.
"Right now, it's come in and compete and show up, so that's what I'll do," McCown said. "If that changes, that changes, and I'll go to that next place and compete there as well... I'll go with that mindset, and if they see differently and I am traded or moved along, I'll appreciate my time there and then go embrace the next opportunity."
The 36-year-old quarterback ended the 2015 season on injured reserve with a broken collarbone, but he still put up solid numbers on the field when healthy last season, completing 63.7 percent of his passes for 2,109 yards with 12 touchdowns to four interceptions. The former third round draft pick has an 18-39 record as a starter in the NFL and could make a legitimate backup for any franchise.
The Denver Broncos and New York Jets are in the market for a quarterback this offseason, but it seems unlikely that either team would make a trade to land McCown. The Browns currently have the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, and while they are hoping that Griffin can reemerge in Cleveland, many expect them to take either California's Jared Goff or North Dakota State's Carson Wentz in the first round.
Injury is likely a major concern for teams that are interested in McCown, but when comparing his numbers with free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick over the past three seasons, they are quite similar. Fitzpatrick is coming off a career-best season in which he threw a career-high 31 touchdowns, and he is considered the best available quarterback on the free agent market.
McCown continues to say all the right things that coaches look for at the quarterback position, and he will surely be on an NFL franchise next season. "You want to compete and you want to have a shot to play, and so if guy comes in and he's perceived to be the starter, as a competitor, you don't like that," McCown said. "But at the same time, understand that when you go through a coaching change and restructuring of the organization, they're going to do whatever they can to help this football team be better. And so as a Cleveland Brown, I'm all for that and I'm behind that 100 percent, so we welcome Robert into the quarterback room as part of our team, and I'll do everything I can to help Robert."
