Browns Quarterback Rumors (and one that could actually work)

I like Sam Bradford, but so do the Rams.  A second-rounder for that guy would work for me, but not for them.

And then, there's those injuries.  The guy could be over them, or he just might not be made for football.

I don't see how Josh McCown is better than Brian Hoyer.

Sanchez is a real possibility.

Nick Foles?  Ah!  It's true that Chip Kelly can't run the offense he wants to run with Foles, and that he knows he could work with the kid he recruited in college (Mariota).  Mariota could run his dream offense immediately--although Kelly would almost certainly tailor it to the pros somewhat.

But Kelly doesn't have much ammo, and couldn't compete with the Farmer in a trade war.  He's got the motive, but his means and opportunity are questionable.

Pat Kirwan recently posted a mock draft having the Eagles give up their first and second this season, their first next season, and Leshaun McCoy for the fourth overall pick to nab Marcus Mariota.

Then, Pat says, they could deal Nick Foles.

Wait a minute: once things fall into place (and I still think people will be fighting over the second spot to grab Mariota), how bout this:

Kelly trades Nick Foles for the Browns' 19th overall pick, and uses that as part of his trade package?

Some would say "that's too much" for Nick Foles.  I don't think so.

Foles already has a bunch of pro experience, and never in all that time has he sucked.  He was lethal at first, then as defenses got a bead on him, he came back down to earth somewhat--but never ever sucked.

New quarterbacks starting out great and then coming back down is a typical pattern.  Defenses "solve" what he does best, and he and his coordinator must adapt to this.  Sometimes they don't or can't, and you've got a bust.  When a quarterback can deal with defenses taking away from them what they do best, you have a guy with a future.

The knocks on him coming out of college were all about his feet.  Especially one report I read knocking his deep accuracy.  That's baloney.  He loses accuracy when he throws on the run or while being hit.

He's still a slowpoke, but with the Eagles he often bought himself time shifting around, and even occasionally scrambled.

Foles is already solid, and still getting better.  He is, at this time, expected to be the starter for the Eagles in 2015.  So hell no, #19 is not too much for him.

Of course, if Kelly makes something like Pat's deal instead, the price goes down.  Chip will have given up his leverage.  

Foles doesn't make a lot of money, so Chip would feel no urgency to get rid of him.  However, Foles now knows he can be a starter and would be unhappy.  Further, the changes Chip would make in his offense to build it around Mariota would make the big pocket passing statue a terrible fit.

Other teams would be in the hunt for Foles, of course, but still Farmer might be able to get him for a second rounder.  Concievably, Manziel could be part of this, as he fits Kelly's ideal system as well.  (I doubt it but...)

And put me in the Nick Foles fan club.  He would come to Cleveland as the presumptive starter--although Pettine would insist on an open competition.  Nick Foles is still young, but is a proven veteran on a contending team.

While I like Mariota too, with him we'd be looking at either an offensive overhaul or a year on the bench behind a journeyman.

With Foles, the Browns would still have #12 overall, and either #19 or the second-rounder.

I'll go further: Manziel could still surprise us, but trust me: With Nick Foles in the mix, the base offense would be pretty much as Tony Grossi assumed it would be: A West Coast variation.  The deck would be stacked against the shrimp scrambler.

Kyle Shanahan didn't want a "Johnny package", but hopefully the new guy is more open-minded.  Foles is now a veteran, and can forego perhaps 20% of the first-team reps.

Let Manziel do some good things, and now he's trade bait.

Nick Foles-such a deal!  I'll go to war with Big Ben or Big Bird with this guy.  Ray?