Should the Browns consider trading either Johnny Manziel or Brian Hoyer?
By Glenn Moore
Since 1999, the Cleveland Browns have had 20 different different starting quarterbacks. From Tim Couch to Kelly Holcomb to Charlie Frye to Derek Anderson to Brandon Weeden, the long list of quarterbacks has resulted in two winning seasons since the franchise’s return.
It’s mind-blowing to think that Brian Hoyer, a man who has only started six games with the Browns, has the best winning percentage as starting quarterback for the struggling franchise. It proves the Browns have been unstable at the position since before the millennium and it has shown in the overall team’s record.
The 2014 season started with promise at quarterback. Hoyer, bouncing back from knee-surgery, went into the off-season the favorite to be the starter. Mix in rookie Johnny Manziel, drafted by the Browns in the first-round, and you finally had excitement and hope.
The Browns are 1-2 after their first three games of the season. You could make the argument that Hoyer and the Browns should be 3-0, but also 0-3. The NFL is a strange and unforgiving beast. In a matter of seconds, games and seasons are decided.
But even though the Browns have one of the most-exciting rookies in recent memory in Manziel, this is Hoyer’s team.
That statement is even more true after Browns quarterback coach Dowell Loggains answered “what’s next for Johnny Manziel” with this: “just get better every day”.
Kyle Shanahan and the offense have put Manziel on the field though. For five plays. And one passing opportunity. Which was dropped. Another play that was drawn up for Manziel to catch a pass along the sideline was brought back after a penalty.
Other than that, Hoyer has taken all the snaps under center and has excelled. He’s guiding a Browns offense that has scored at least 21 points in each of the first three games for the first time since 1969. And he’s doing this without Pro Bowl wide receiver Josh Gordon.
Hoyer is 61-for-95 on the season in pass attempts, with 716 yards and three touchdowns. One big stat is zero interceptions. He’s also has thrown an interception in 156 pass attempts, which goes back to last season.
So what should the Browns do with Manziel? Trade him? Keep him on the bench until Hoyer stops being productive or gets injured? Or should the Browns look to trade Hoyer while his value is high?
With the Browns owning two first-round draft picks in next year’s draft, which is likely to feature Oregon’s Marcus Mariota and Florida State’s Jameis Winston, if the Browns feel Manziel is not ready or lacks the potential to be a starting quarterback in the NFL, the franchise should consider trading him.
So many questions surrounding the quarterback position in Cleveland. That statement has been stapled to his team for years, but this time, it’s a good thing. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons to the Browns trading Manziel or Hoyer.
Trading Johnny Manziel
Pros: While Manziel slipped in the first-round of this year’s draft, teams still recognize the play-making ability of the former Heisman Trophy winner. And if the Browns do decide to shop Manziel, teams will call and make an offer.
The one advantage Manziel has over Hoyer is bringing more value to the table when teams offer a deal. Could you get a first or second round pick for the quarterback from Texas? Manziel is first-round talent to many franchises and he has yet to prove that statement is false this season.
We know Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys were interested in Manziel before the Browns selected the quarterback from Texas. With Hoyer playing well and the Browns needing to make a decision in terms of signing Hoyer in the off-season (he’s an unrestricted free agent after this season), it will be hard for the Browns to throw a lot of money at quarterback when they drafted one in the first-round the previous year.
This makes Manziel trade bait. The question is, do you dare accept anything lower than a first-round pick or let him sit the bench?
Cons: Only since 1999 has a Browns quarterback started all 16 games, which was Tim Couch in 2001. The odds are in favor of Manziel seeing the field this season and starting a game. As previously stated, the only way Manziel sees the starting lineup is if Hoyer becomes unproductive or gets injured. Both happen frequently in the NFL to starting quarterbacks.
Also, Manziel has put the Browns back on the football map. The excitement from the fan base has been evident since the Browns drafted Manziel in May. From a public relations perspective, do you dare kill the ‘Johnny Cleveland’ phenomenon?
On-the-field matters most, and with Hoyer coming back from a serious knee injury, the odds are we will see Manziel under center and starting sometime this season.
Trading Brian Hoyer
Pros: If Manziel is the future at quarterback for the Browns, you hope Hoyer succeeds, but doesn’t produce wins before the trading deadline. Hoyer is a free agent after the center, and if he does continue to be productive, he will want a lot of money.
You won’t get more for him than you would Manziel, but trading Hoyer when is value is at it’s peak makes sense. You get a mid-round or even second-round pick for Hoyer and the Browns are able to get a player i in the upcoming draft that could make an impact right away. And you also give the reigns to Manziel.
Manziel goes into the last portion of the season with nobody looking over his shoulder when it comes to playing time and can focus on learning and getting better.
Cons: You trade Hoyer when his value is high and Manziel turns out to a first-round bust. To rub salt in the wound, Hoyer goes on to succeed with his new team and the Browns are forced to take another quarterback in next year’s draft.
The only other con would be trading Hoyer for a low-round draft pick just to free up Manziel to start. Turns out to be a steal for the team trading for Hoyer and the Browns come away empty-handed.
After leading the Browns to a comeback win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 2, Hoyer admitted he was upset when he found out the team would using a Manziel package against the Saints. Hoyer will never be able to escape Manziel if he remains in Cleveland.
While it’s a great problem to have two productive quarterbacks in the NFL, it can become distracting to the players.
The city of Cleveland is only big enough for one star quarterback. Either Hoyer or Manziel has to go at some point. The question is which one leaves town and for what?
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