The Browns refuse to stop its quest of landing a starting quarterback and though it desires to trade for New England’s Jimmy Garoppolo, coach Bill Belichick drives a hard bargain. Per a report from NFL insider Ian Rapaport, Cleveland is interested in Bengals’ quarterback AJ McCarron and could pursue a trade for him.
Cincinnati selected McCarron in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, following his stellar career at the University of Alabama. The former Tide standout guided the program to a Southeastern Conference championship and two BCS national championships, during his tenure as a three-year starter (2011-13).
He totaled 9,019 career passing yards with 77 touchdowns to 15 interceptions.
McCarron showed he could run Hue Jackson’s offense in 2015, when he came off the bench to take over for an injured Andy Dalton. He saw action in seven games, completing 79 of 119 passes (66.4 percent) for 854 yards with six touchdowns to two interceptions. The Mobile, Ala., native found receiver A.J. Green for a touchdown in Cincinnati’s Wild Card playoff game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mitch Trubisky, DeShone Kizer and Deshaun Watson all are high on Cleveland’s radar, but nothing speaks success more than an experienced quarterback. With McCarron being in the league for three seasons, he understands the division—AFC North—and would be reunited with Jackson should the Browns trade for him.
Cleveland carries the No. 1 and No. 12 picks in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
