Tennessee Titans And Cleveland Browns Discussing Trade For No. 2 Pick For Marcus Mariota

The Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns are reportedly talking about trading draft spots in order for the latter to select quarterback Marcus Mariota in the upcoming 2015 NFL draft.

The Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns /4/end up trading draft spots in order for the latter to select quarterback Marcus Mariota. 

ESPN Cleveland Browns reporter Pat McManamon broke the news on Wednesday, citing a league source. Cleveland is reportedly willing to include its two first-round draft picks, 12th and 19th overall, in the package to get a shot at Mariota. 

“The @TennesseeTitans are not only fielding calls from teams but they’re also making calls.” – @JeffDarlington pic.twitter.com/lD3hr6JrX0— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 29, 2015

McManamon says both camps “privately denied the report.” A Titans source told ESPN’s Paul Kuharsky the Browns haven’t reached out to them for the No. 2 overall pick. Meanwhile, a Browns source says no discussions with the Titans have taken place. 

However, McManamon’s source told him on Wednesday the talks were serious. 

Browns general manager Ray Farmer told McManamon last week he would either move up or down in the draft depending on the circumstance:

“I would go up if it was the right circumstance, and I would go back if it was the right circumstance.

“A lot of the scuttlebutt that you hear and the conjecture and the noise that’s out there, it changes the complexion of trying to get a deal done. If everybody thinks that you want something, your price just went up.”

Trade rumors are swirling…

What will the @TennesseeTitans do with pick #2?

This + more NEXT on TA Draft Preview! pic.twitter.com/gJwV2MmHRg— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 29, 2015

Apparently, the Browns aren’t the only ones who are interested in trading up for the No. 2 pick. 

An NFL source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter the Titans have received several inquiries from other squads regarding a potential trade for their spot in the draft. 

Titans general manager Ruston Webster didn’t deny this in an interview with The Tennessean’s Jim Wyatt on April 28. He also added they would select a franchise quarterback, given the opportunity:

“There are calls, and there’s activity. But there typically is at this time in the process. We are open to listening, but we like the No. 2 spot. We are real happy where we are.

“If you think a player is a franchise quarterback, then that supersedes everything else. I think we like both (Jameis Winston and Mariota). It is really not a factor what Tampa (Bay Buccaneers) does. 

Will the #Titans trade the No. 2 pick? @RapSheet and @JeffDarlington weigh the options. WATCH: http://t.co/UVHKgCOR7T pic.twitter.com/b2xpBMAXow— Tennessee Titans (@TennesseeTitans) April 29, 2015

“If we were to go that direction, what Tampa did would not affect what we did.”

For his part, Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt discussed the prospect of winding up with Mariota with The Tennessean’s John Glennon on Tuesday:

“But you also have to try to do some things they have done well. Our no-huddle offense that we run, some of the things I have seen Marcus do in his offense tranlsate to that. There are certainly some things whether we get either one of these two young men (Winston and Mariota) that you will do to make that transition either.

“One of the things specifically talking about Mariota and Oregon is when you run the read option, you have to understand the blocking schemes when you are doing one of those plays — where the tackle is going to go, how you are blocking and who you are leaving unblocked.

ICYMI: Watch the pre-draft press conference with GM Ruston Webster and HC Ken Whisenhunt: http://t.co/JL3zp8EK8r pic.twitter.com/94tO7MYPb9— Tennessee Titans (@TennesseeTitans) April 29, 2015

“That takes a lot of manipulation based on the front. So in a lot of ways it helps prepare these guys for some of the things they are going to have to do at this level.”

Whisenhunt also told Wyatt on Tuesday they can’t go wrong with either Winston or Mariota:

“Both of these young men exhibit a lot of the qualities you want to see. They are both very intelligent…and they have both been very successful. So there’s a lot of great qualities with these guys.”

The first day of the 2015 NFL draft will be held at Roosevelt University’s Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, Ill. on Thursday, April 30, at 8 p.m. ET.

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