Although Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is currently finishing up a stint in rehab, he is expected to rejoin the team before offseason workouts begin on April 20. Once that happens, Manziel is also expected to compete with Josh McCown for the starting quarterback job.
Johnny Football's rookie season did not go well; he threw for just 175 yards with two interceptions and zero touchdowns in five game appearances. But as the No. 22 overall pick last year, the Browns are not quite ready to give up on Manziel just yet. The Browns were thought to be targeting a wide receiver in the NFL draft to help with Manziel's development. They opted not to draft a pass-catcher last year in what turned out to be one of the deepest crops of wide receivers in recent memory. This thought was only reinforced when Josh Gordon failed yet another drug test, putting at least his 2015 season in doubt.
However, that may not be the case as ESPN NFL Draft Insider Todd McShay projects Cleveland to select Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton and Miami offensive tackle Ereck Flowers with its two first round picks.
"Outside of quarterback, which the Browns aren't going to be able to address here in this scenario, the team's biggest needs are at wide receiver, right tackle and nose tackle," McShay wrote in his Mock Draft 4.0. "Shelton is the No. 9 player on our board, so he's a value here, and there are good receiver and right tackle prospects to be had with the Browns' No. 19 pick. You always have to worry about consistency with a player of Shelton's size (6-2, 339 pounds), but he has the potential to be a dominant force against the run and double-team magnet in the middle of Cleveland's defensive front. He can also push the pocket as a pass-rusher."
The Browns had previously been linked to Louisville wide receiver DeVante Parker with the No. 12 overall pick. But McShay projected Parker to be selected by the St. Louis Rams in this most recent mock draft. If Parker is gone, UCF's Breshad Perriman is a viable alternative.
Although Shelton and Flowers are both enticing prospects, it would be odd for the Browns not to select a pass-catcher in either of the past two drafts. Whoever is under center, be it Manziel or McCown, is going to need a lot of help on offense. The lack of weapons in Cleveland is a serious concern that needs to be addressed.
