3 Cleveland Browns Draft Picks Lining Up with 1st-Team Offense in OTAs

Brandon Weeden's bid to start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns might not get the big stage that fellow first-round pick Ryan Tannehill will get in Miami on HBO's Hard Knocks, but there might not be a battle for the job in Cleveland by the time the show debuts on August 7th.

Today the Browns are holding the one OTA practice open to the media out of the current set of three. Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports the quarterback who took the first snaps with the top unit has changed since the last OTA open to the media:

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#browns significant development that Weeden is taking first 11-on-11 reps, even if they're alternating days...otas open to media 1 of 3 days

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) May 30, 2012

 

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Cabot does leave open the possibility that Colt McCoy could be taking the first set of first-team reps on the days the media isn't present, but the Browns have to know the ramifications of marching Weeden out there to start when the press is there.

The language around the quarterback competition has made it seem like a sham from day one. If a team truly expects a player to be the best candidate before the competition opens, then it isn't really a competition, is it? Browns fans should hope that the team stops trying to create the farce of a position battle. Weeden's going to start the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles unless he is physically unable to play.

Cabot also reports that No. 3 overall pick Trent Richardson and second-round right tackle Mitchell Schwartz are also lining up with the starters. Neither development is a surprise and both should represent massive improvements over the quality of play the team had in their respective positions in 2011. 

With nose tackle Phil Taylor likely sidelined for the first part of the season and outside linebacker Scott Fujita suspended for three games for his role in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, the Browns could be starting third-round pick John Hughes and fourth-round pick James-Michael Johnson in Week 1. The Browns faithful should be ready for some struggles early if almost one quarter of the starters are rookies in September.