Johnny Manziel Trade Value: To the Cowboys for a 4th Round Pick?

Johnny Manziel will get his 3rd – 4th? 5th? I’ve lost count – chance to impress the world as an NFL QB starting this week against lowly San Francisco. Manziel partied his way out of the starting lineup last month, but the bumbling owner is forcing the Browns to play their 2014 1st round pick.

It’s the first smart move Jimmy Haslam has made in years. Coach Mike Pettine is a goner, so why not force Manziel into the lineup and try to bring his value out the gutter?

Speculation is already rampant about the future of the franchise – the Browns will have a new GM, a new coach, and a new QB next year. What could Cleveland fetch in return for Manziel? Via Mort and Schefter:

"The same team executive said the Browns can probably eventually entice Jones to offer a conditional fourth-round draft pick for Manziel, even with the knowledge that the former Texas A&M quarterback was the top-rated player on the Cowboys’ board in 2014."

A 4th rounder for Manziel – at this point – would be a no-brainer for Cleveland. Nobody is sure what Manziel can do as an NFL QB for a variety of reasons. He’s only thrown 163 passes in two seasons! It’s too early to write him off, but the off-the-field troubles have showed no signs of slowing down, so why waste time babysitting a 23-year old? Letting him be someone else’s problem for a 4th round pick almost seems like a steal.

Here are a handful of 4th round picks in recent years, just for fun. And yes, we’re well aware the Browns would find a way to make the wrong selection:

2015
Jamison Crowder, WR, Washington 105
Jeremy Langford, RB, Chicago 106
Javorius Allen, RB, Baltimore 125
2014
Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta 103
Martavis Bryant, WR, Clemson 118
2013
Jelani Jenkins, LB, Miami 104
2012
Lamar Miller, RB, Miami 97
Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington 102
Nigel Bradham, LB, Buffalo 105
Jared Crick, DE, Houston 126