Report: Browns Think They Can Acquire Sam Bradford Before NFL Draft

The plot thickens.

The Cleveland Browns made headlines Wednesday when they reportedly offered the Tennessee Titans two first-round picks in the 2015 NFL Draft for Tennessee’s second overall pick, presumably to get Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Now, less than 24 hours before the draft, it appears the Browns have another quarterback on their radar.

Cleveland believes it has a “good chance” to acquire Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford in a trade before the NFL draft begins, an NFL source told MMQB’s Peter King late Wednesday night.

This scenario brings a third team into the mix for Mariota’s services: the Eagles and former Oregon coach Chip Kelly. To get the Heisman Trophy winner, Philly likely would get one of the Browns’ two first-round picks for Bradford and combine that with its 20th overall pick in an attempt to trade with the Titans for their second overall pick.

Kelly coached Mariota during his redshirt freshman season at Oregon, in which the Ducks finished 12-1 and beat Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl. Kelly also has plenty of quarterbacks at his disposal should Philly depart with Bradford, including Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley and, yes, Tim Tebow.

The Browns, meanwhile, seem very interested in acquiring a quarterback despite taking Johnny Manziel with the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 draft. Cleveland has taken a QB in the first round in two of the last three drafts (Brandon Weeden in 2012) and also signed undrafted quarterback Connor Shaw after last year’s draft.