Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon can't decide if he wants the team to draft Johnny Manziel or Teddy Bridgewater, but perhaps there is another name he should start to consider.
According to Cleveland.com, the team held a private workout with Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on Friday.
While most of the scuttlebutt on the Browns' draft plans has been about one of the top four quarterbacks in the 2014 NFL Draft -- Manziel, Bridgewater, Blake Bortles and Derek Carr -- Garoppolo is likely in the mix for the team, as well.
Garoppolo is tied for NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock's fifth-best quarterback in the upcoming draft but has seen his stock rise steadily since a good outing at the Senior Bowl. Most consider the 6-foot-2, 226-pounder a second-day lock, but there's an outside shot a team (perhaps the Browns at No. 26 overall) takes a flyer on him in the first.
The visit with the Browns on Friday is another stop on the busy private workout tour Garoppolo and his agent have put together. He visited the Ravens on Tuesday and has already thrown for Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers.
Cleveland will eventually see just about every top quarterback prospect as the team looks to bring in some competition for incumbent Brian Hoyer. While the front office has not taken the opportunity to attend many quarterback pro days, it has been active in putting the players through their paces in more intimate settings.
The Brownssaw Carr on Monday, Bortles on Wednesday and have scheduled both Bridgewater and Manziel for a workout in the near future. Alabama's AJ McCarron and LSU's Zach Mettenberger could be among those in line for a call, as well.
Garoppolo threw for 5,050 yards last season while posting a 53-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Scouts are particularly enamored with his quick release and NFL size.
Who knows what direction Browns general manager Ray Farmer will take in the draft, but one thing is for sure, he'll be looking for a quarterback. Given that he previously said he might throw a few curveballs in May, perhaps drafting Garoppolo earlier than expected would qualify.
*Follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter **@BryanDFischer.*
