For Cleveland Browns, 2015 Is a Real-Life 'Draft Day'

In Cleveland, the NFL draft has become the city's version of the Super Bowl. 

With a championship drought since 1964 and constant losing after the team's rebirth in 1999, the very best that fans of the organization can hope for is being the talk of the NFL for one weekend in late April/early May. 

The draft is such a big part of the fabric of Cleveland's football culture that the movie Draft Day centered around the Browns 

OK. The New York Jets and Buffalo Bills passed on the opportunity to do the film before a final decision came down to use the Browns, but, in some weird way, the script of the movie paralleled the organization's real-life football drama. 

Chris Pizzello/Associated Press

In the film, faux Browns general manager Sonny Weaver was mandated by an overbearing owner to make a splash in the draft. He does so by trading away the team's future in order to select a make-believe franchise quarterback, Bo Callahan, instead of sticking with the solid veteran already on the roster. Weaver does an about-face when he couldn't develop a comfort level with the mercurial quarterback prospect and instead selected the player he wanted all along to the dismay of his head coach and owner.  

In reality, the Browns are caught in an endless cycle of Weaver-esque decisions that could forever change the organization's misfortune if only the right choices are finally made. 

Last year, the team fell flat in doing so despite owning a pair of first-round picks. 

In an eerie coincidence, Browns general manager Ray Farmer was able to obtain the one player his coach wanted and the flashy quarterback his owner coveted. 

Cornerback Justin Gilbert and quarterback Johnny Manziel barely saw the field as rookies, though, and contributed next to nothing to the team.

Farmer didn't ride off into the sunset at the end of the film looking like a genius with his team headed in the right direction. 

Instead, the Browns are basically in the same position today as they were a year ago. We can call their current situation Draft Day Part Two: When the Owner Really, Really Wants a QB. 

Does anyone have Denis Leary's number to reprise his role as the fiery Coach Penn? 

The Browns' options are once again plentiful, because the team owns the 12th, 19th and 43rd overall selections. All of those options keep coming back to the same problem, though: finding a legitimate starting quarterback. 

Farmer owns plenty of ammunition to make a move for one of this year's top quarterback prospects despite investing a first-round pick on one less than a year ago. 

Where there is smoke there is fire, and the rumors of the Browns trading up for Oregon's Marcus Mariota continue unabated. 

DraftInsider.net's Tony Pauline reported the latest: 

"

From all accounts I’m hearing the Cleveland Browns are the front runners and working hardest in the hopes of acquiring the quarterback. Early last week I was told the asking price from the Tennessee Titans was both of the Browns first-round picks as well as their choice in the second round, to which Cleveland replied no. Understandable Tennessee would have a high asking price at this point and even more understandable the Browns would say no. I’m told the Browns may be willing to part with both first round picks for Mariota but want to hold on to the second-round choice to draft a much needed receiver.

"

Due to owning 10 draft total picks, including two in the first round, the Browns are a popular option as a potential trade partner. 

But the team's final move may not be to acquire Mariota. It may be to move back and acquire a veteran signal-caller. 

Pauline further expounded on the team's quarterback plight: 

"

The premise being if trading up for Mariota was too rich for Cleveland’s blood they would be part of a three team trade in which another franchise would use the Browns initial pick as a stepping stone to move up for Mariota. ...I made further inquiries and can confirm both the Chargers and Eagles are exploring the possibility of maneuvering up for Mariota through the Browns and both teams have had conversations on the topic.  

"

If the Chargers are involved, the asking price for one or both of the Browns' first-round picks would likely be veteran signal-caller Philip Rivers. 

All of this is clearly conjecture with a week remaining before the draft. Farmer said it best during Thursday's predraft press conference, via the Akron Beacon-Journal's Nate Ulrich:

The pressure of being on the clock can make unlikely trade partners, and the Browns have a difficult decision to make. 

As of right now, the team's quarterback situation is one of the worst in the NFL. A 35-year-old Josh McCown and Manziel, who is a week removed from spending three months in a treatment facility, don't inspire any type of confidence. 

Could Mariota? Or, would the Chargers actually deal Rivers? 

The team aggressively pursued Sam Bradford when he was available. The scouting department has been completely thorough in evaluating each of the quarterbacks prospects. 

Actions speak louder than words, and the Browns' actions indicate they're ready to make another move in their endless attempts to acquire a franchise quarterback. It's something that hasn't existed in Cleveland at any point in the last 30 years. 

The Browns' only course of action is to continue the search. 

David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Last year, the team finished 7-9 after starting the season 7-4. The collapse of veteran Brian Hoyer paved the way for the Manziel debacle. The team was in position to make a playoff run if it received average quarterback play over the final five games of the season. 

It didn't, but plenty of the talent on last year's roster remains, plus the team added Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline, Tramon Williams, Randy Starks and Rob Housler in free agency. 

Those veterans provide draft flexibility. 

Farmer filled the team's biggest needs prior to the draft to allow the team to pursue whatever direction it feels is necessary. 

Players such as Louisville Cardinals wide receiver DeVante Parker, Washington Huskies nose tackle Danny Shelton, Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Malcom Brown and many others could provide a positive impact in Cleveland. And the Browns would be a better team overall by using both of their first-round picks on those talented players. But none of them can create the same type of ripple effect as a top quarterback prospect for the franchise to finally achieve long-term stability.

It's quarterback or bust in Cleveland. Weaver...er, Farmer already selected his version of Callahan, and he failed. It's now time to rectify the situation in this second installment of Draft Day.  

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL draft for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @brentsobleski.