Johnny Manziel may not get his shot in Cleveland after all. ESPN’s Pat McManamon is reporting that the Cleveland Browns have offered both their first-round picks in the 2015 NFL Draft, No. 12 and No. 19, in exchange for the Tennessee Titans’ No. 2 pick which they would then presumably use to draft Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.
WOW! – CLE offers two 1st-round picks to TEN for No. 2 overall selection in Draft where they would take Marcus Mariota.
(via @PatMcManamon)— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 29, 2015
That is, of course, if Mariota doesn’t get drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 1 pick. (Spoiler alert: He won’t).
While the Titans have presumably turned down the deal, it doesn’t mean they won’t still entertain offers from Cleveland. The Browns just need to decide how badly they want Mariota versus the quarterbacks already on their roster (Manziel and Josh McCown) and the two first-round additions they would make this season. The NFL Network’s Charlie Casserly, the former Washington Redskins and Houston Texans general manager, believes if the Browns tossed in their first-round pick for next year the Titans would take the deal.
In my Cleveland Browns Perfect 2015 Draft, I had them taking Louisville wide receiver Devante Parker at 12 and Georgia running back Todd Gurley at 19, so that’s who they’re conceivably giving up already in the trade offer, let alone whatever pick they end up with next season. And if the Browns’ history is any indication, it could likely be high.
If the Browns are already that in love with the idea of adding Mariota to the team, the deal may happen. We’ll find out Thursday night about 15 minutes into the draft.
According to Ian Rappaport, the Browns are also looking to move up to the No. 5 pick, presumably, trading both picks, if the Titans pass on Mariota (Spoiler alert: They won’t).
Titans say they’ll incorporate spread offense if they draft Mariota
With more and more people coming to the realization that the Tennessee Titans will draft Marcus Mariota with the No. 2 pick if he falls to them, the question then becomes what will they do with him when he’s on the team?
Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt told The Tennessean that if Mariota is the Titans’ pick, he’ll add aspects of the spread offense to the Titans attack.
“I think that is a part of it,” Whisenhunt told the paper. “I think that is what we try to do with a lot of things. I think with a young quarterback, obviously one of the things you have to do is you have to push him, you have to test him, challenge him. That’s what these guys thrive on, but you also have to do some things they have done well.”
The Titans already have three quarterbacks on the roster including last year’s sixth-round pick Zach Mettenberger, who would likely be the starter if the Titans pass on Mariota.
Mettenberger played in seven games last season and passed for a 59.8 completion percentage, 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns with seven picks.
La’el Collins leaves Chicago to speak to police in Louisiana
Though the Baton Rouge Police Department have made it clear that LSU offensive tackle La’el Collins isn’t a suspect, the potential first-round pick has left the draft in Chicago to speak to them in regards to the death of a 29-year-old pregnant woman.
Rams did have interest in LSU O-lineman La'el Collins, including pre-draft visit. Wonder if he stays on their board given latest woes?
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) April 29, 2015
And while Collins hasn’t been implicated, he has less than 24 hours to get his name out of this story to keep his draft status intact. If the first round starts before Collins is officially cleared, he may drop completely out of the round.
Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan suspended for 2015 season
Adam Schefter is reporting that Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordon has been suspended for the 2015 NFL season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Schefter says that the sample that Jordon turned in didn’t fail the drug test, but was diluted and that in itself constitutes a failed test.
Dion Jordan on his suspension, via the @NFLPA: "I will use the time away from playing to finish my college degree."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 29, 2015
Jordan missed four games last season after failing his last test. Jordan was a first round pick out of Oregon in 2013. Last year he had 20 tackles and one sack. Jordan is not expected to appeal the suspension.
Other news
The Houston Texans are reportedly shopping third-year safety D.J. Swearinger in a trade. Last year Swearinger recorded 144 tackles, 10 passes defended, three picks and one sack.
According to Schefter, two different teams have inquired about a trade for defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson with the New York Jets.
Martellus Bennett is also reportedly on the trading block for the Chicago Bears. The tight end had 90 catches for 916 yards and six touchdowns last season, all career highs.
