NFL Mock Draft 2015: Cleveland Browns Select Marcus Mariota

Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

Coming into the 2015 NFL draft it's no surprise the Cleveland Browns are once again a team with a lot of holes to fill. Rumors and common sense lean toward the Browns going into the Draft trying to trade up to select their quarterback of the future in Marcus Mariota. Well in this mock, they didn't have to do that at all and may even pull a hamstring running to the podium to turn in their draft card. After he slid past the New York Jets at pick 6, the slim chance of him falling to 12 became more and more of a reality.

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We all know the troubles the Browns have had a quarterback; heck just last year the Browns went into the draft also needing to find their quarterback of the future. Well, we also all remember Johnny Football's face when he began to slide and infamously sent a text to then quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains that read,

'I wish you guys would come get me. Hurry up and draft me because I want to be there. I want to wreck this league together.'

That was enough to make Brown's owner Jimmy Haslem state, "Pull the trigger; we are trading up to go get this guy."

Well one year and various incidents later to go along with a 42.0 quarterback rating, the Browns have seen enough,

"I think about 90 percent [the Browns] have moved on [from Manziel] in their own minds except that they really don't know who they're going to get when Johnny leaves rehab, which has been an extended stay -- a two-month stay," ESPN's Chris Mortensen said during an appearance on Mike & Mike. "He should be getting out in the first week of April if they're satisfied that he's ready to go out and get into society and whatever deep-rooted problems that he had has been addressed. OK, now he's part of your depth chart. You have Josh McCown."

But, if Mike Pettine and Ray Farmer want to last longer than their predecessors did, I wouldn't bank on Josh McCown(a journeyman quarterback with one good year) to get them back into relevance.  After all, last year McCown was throwing to the likes of Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans. I don't think he is going to improve on a 70.5 passer rating when his main pass catchers are Brian Hartline, Dwayne Bowe and Andrew Hawkins. Can McCown or Manziel improve on these numbers below? I wouldn't put my job status on it.

2014 Cleveland Offense:

31^st- Combined Passing Rating- 72.4

32^nd- Completion Percentage- 54.6

27^th- Points per Game- 18.7

Mariota will undoubtedly take some time to adjust to the NFL game after leaving a spread happy Oregon team but any improvement from last year's quarterback play will be a sight for sore eyes for Cleveland fans. Mariota will also be a class guy that can rally a torn fan base of Manziel supporters and doubters. He is after all the polar opposite of Johnny Rehab.

And when it comes to stats we can go on and on about what Marcus Mariota put up at Oregon and many will say it was a product of the system which it partly was.

But one stat, I will point out is in 3 seasons he had:

105 TD's

14 INT's

Compare this to Jameis Winston throwing 25 TD's to 18 INT's just in 2014 and it makes you wonder why Jameis is the clear top overall pick.

With the issues The Browns have had at quarterback, it is time they roll the dice again on more of a sure bet then past picks with last two being Brandon Weeden and Johnny Manziel. Without having to trade up and give up anything to draft Mariota, this is an easy selection. Mariota will look to finally solidify the much maligned quarterback position in a great sports city hoping to once again become something more than the laughing stock of the league.

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Thanks to all the CSC members who participated in this year's community mock draft. Without your help, none of this would be possible.

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Catch up with all of the mock draft selections in our 2015 CSC Community Mock Draft Hub.