Mike Glennon?

Hell.  Yes.

Oh, I hear you.  I was never a big Glennon fan myself.  His stats last season (his second...you get that right?  The second season, in which defenses got you figured out and bring you down?  Like RG3?) are decent, but he did have issues.

Oh yeah, I hear you.  Can't call you a dummy for not liking him.  But who's that who said that Manziel was better?  YOU are a mow-ron!

Not that I'm dooming Manziel by any means.  It doesn't look good at the moment, but you can't count a guy like him out.

No, but it's risk/reward, you see?  If the Browns trade up for Mariota, it will cost at least their second round pick, and in my opinion more likely both their firsts and maybe more.

For that, you get a tremendously talented kid who may or may not have the wetware in his skull to run a pro offense and eventually become a franchise guy.

It's also about certainty.  Ray can make all the plans he wants, but could well still lose a bidding war IF IF IF a trade is even possible.

I myself am not nearly as big a Glennon fan as I am a Foles fan, but the two players are similar.  In fact, the two of them are similar to Joe Flacco physically. 

But here's the thing: Mike Glennon has significant starting experience, and is still growing.  His persistent problem as a pro has been his pocket presence, as he still doesn't step into throws in the face of pressure.

I really hate that.  But then, last season Derrick Carr, who had the same problem, did okay for the Raiders, and it's not one of those things you can't fix.  Glennon has proven that he can run a pro offense, from his rookie season on.

So far, he's nothing special, but he's not bad either.  I would even say he's above average, with upside remaining.

I'd prefer this young guy to Gramps McCown.  Given the same support and protection I expected McCown to do well with, I believe Glennon in his third season would do better.

Cincinnati has won a lot of games with Andy Dalton.  Well, Glennon has a lot more upside than Dalton.  He might or might not ever grow into a franchise guy (doubtful), but should become pretty good.

To date, his QBR is around 83, which is better than this team has had since Hoyer's flame-out (and until Hoyer, for several YEARS).  In his third season even with the same team, you could expect that to get up around 90--that's about normal growth with experience.

If the price is a third round pick, why are you even arguing with me?  You know, a third round pick is kind of lower than numbers twelve,  nineteen, and maybe next year's first, you know?


If Farmer trades a third for Glennon, now we've got a younger, more promising, and experienced starter than McCown, McCown to help coach him, Johnny, and the massively underrated undrafted guy with the pop gun.

Ray's got that instead of possibly NOTHING, by the way.  Remember, this is the Browns, right?  Do you feel confident that, no matter HOW much Ray offers, the football gods would let him land Mariota?

Now they've still got those two first round picks.  NOW, they might get one of those top three wide recievers and an elite OLB or something, and a third starter in the second round, see?

Or he could trade down and stockpile picks into the future again--and still get some really good players.

Tony Tony Tony!  Listen, man: The roster is already pretty loaded, and if they draft ten players they'll have to start cutting good players--whether they're guys you just drafted or developmental guys already on the roster.

And what about franchise quarterback insurance, Tony?  You think the Browns plan to wait til next year for a franchise guy...and get him with what?  I know you, Tony.  You know they can't manage to lose more than 9 games even with McCown, so how are they supposed to get a franchise guy in '16 without picks to trade, huh?

But I digress:  If the Browns land Glennon for a third rounder, this is a guy who still has a chance to become a franchise quarterback--even as soon as this (his third) season with the best team he's had around him.

You've got Johnny there to fight it out with him, and you just never know--maybe HIS light goes on.  If all else fails, at least you've got Gramps McCown.

Take your chances with these two guys.  Surround them with talent.  Run the ball, let them manage games--see what happens.  It could just work out.  

Risk/reward.  Bird in the hand.  Competition.  

Mike Glennon just might be the answer.

Or not.