The Cleveland Browns have not had a good, long-term quarterback under center in a long, long time.
That's partly why the franchise has spent a handful of first-round picks on the position trying to find a franchise quarterback.
Should they do it again in the 2015 NFL Draft? NFL Media analyst Charley Casserly says that, given the situation surrounding Johnny Manziel, whom the team drafted No. 22 overall last year, the answer is yes.
"Trade up and go get Mariota and get another guy in the mix," Casserly said on NFL Network's "Path to the Draft," referring to former Oregon QB Marcus Mariota. "Keep competing at the quarterback position, and that, to me, is your best option with the first pick. Take your (first-round pick) from next year if you have to do it. Then you have two guys that could both come through, and if they both work out, then you can trade one.
"At least with Mariota, you have smarts and work habits to start, and he's a heck of an athlete who has some throwing talent," he said.
Mariota is widely viewed as one of the top players in the draft and was recently made the top quarterback available by NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock.Â
For the Browns to get Mariota, it wouldn't be cheap. They do have two first-round picks this year, and it would probably take at least the No. 12 and No. 19 overall picks in order to move up high enough to draft Mariota. Given that the Tennessee Titans, who have the No. 2 overall pick, have shown interest in Mariota, as well, it's likely the Browns would even have to go all the way up to the second pick in order to ensure they could land Mariota.
It would be a gamble, but one Casserly thinks the franchise has to take.
"If you sit there and take the best player available, like DeVante Parker and Malcom Brown, you're going to get an 'A' in the draft," he said. "But you're not going to have a quarterback, so I'd roll the dice on a quarterback and go from there."
Another year of the Browns taking a quarterback in the first round? It's not that far-fetched.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
