Quarterback Josh McCown was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier in the offseason and a few teams have been looking to sign him. The Cleveland Browns are one of them, which could jeopardize the future of quarterbacks Johnny Manziel and Brian Hoyer.
The Browns and Buffalo Bills are in talks with McCown and both have also had contract discussions, according to The Associated Press. The veteran has also visited the New York Jets and Chicago Bears, but it appears Cleveland and Buffalo are the frontrunners because they give McCown a better opportunity to compete for the starting job.
If he were to sign with Cleveland, it would likely mean Brian Hoyer won't be re-signed and Johnny Manziel's future with the team would be even more up in the air. The Browns said they were going to explore all options at the quarterback position since Hoyer is hitting free agency and is likely to cost a solid amount of money, and Manziel recently checked himself into rehab for possible alcohol dependency. On top of the team possibly signing McCown, there have been rumors that the Browns could be going after a quarterback - specifically Marcus Mariota - in the upcoming draft.
And it's not hard to believe because Cleveland has two first round picks and wouldn't have trouble moving up a few spots from the No. 12 overall selection. Mariota is projected to go No. 6 overall to the New York Jets in a number of mock drafts. McCown can potentially help Mariota learn the ropes in the NFL if the two were to join Cleveland.
"In addition to mentoring Manziel, who's currently in a treatment center for possible alcohol and substance abuse, McCown would help [new offensive coordinator John] DeFilippo implement the new offense and teach the nuances to the young quarterbacks," writes Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Having played for six teams over the past 12 years, McCown has run multiple systems and will serve as almost another coach on the field and in the classroom. In fact, he's six years older than Browns' new quarterbacks coach Kevin O'Connell, 29."
He may indeed mentor Manziel, but the reports of them pursuing McCown while also potentially considering trading up for a quarterback in the draft suggest a possible new era of quarterbacks in Cleveland.
Browns' owner Jimmy Haslam said it's too soon to move on from Manziel, but after a tumultuous rookie season that ended up being characterized as a "100 percent joke," we don't know how serious Haslam's comments are.
