5 Creative Moves the Cleveland Browns Can Pull on Draft Day

The Cleveland Browns are no stranger to getting creative on draft day. Trading up, trading down, trading completely out or back into rounds, stockpiling picks for the future—the Browns have done it all, sometimes multiple times in one draft.

As such, it's hard to bat an eye at the Browns' draft moves, even the sillier ones, even the ones that didn't play out in their favor as their impacts were felt on the roster and on the field. But it also makes Browns' drafts that much more interesting—everything, seemingly, is possible.

With that in mind, here are five creative moves the Browns could realistically pull off in the 2015 NFL draft.

Browns Trade Up for QB Marcus Mariota

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The Mariota-Browns chatter has reached a fever pitch, a week before the draft.

The idea that the Cleveland Browns would be willing to trade up, as high as to No. 2 overall, to select Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is no longer much of a surprising one, as it's been talked about and written to death over the past few months. Still, it qualifies as a creative move, especially considering the Browns already have four quarterbacks on their roster and drafted one, Johnny Manziel, in Round 1 last year.

But the chatter has been there, unrelenting, and it hasn't stopped yet—especially not with head coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer both saying "Sure, why not?" when asked about trading up for Mariota.

The Browns could package their two Round 1 picks, Nos. 12 and 19 overall, to move up to No. 2 or even to No. 3, where the Jacksonville Jaguars make their pick if the Tennessee Titans take the draft's best defensive player, Leonard Williams, with the second overall pick.

It would likely cost the Browns more than that, though. They may have to sacrifice a 2015 or 2016 second-rounder for the honor of drafting Mariota. But if the Browns believe that Mariota will be the solution to their longstanding quarterback woes, he may be worth the price.

Browns Trade for Washington QB Robert Griffin III

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Should the Browns still covet Robert Griffin III, they may be able to trade for him if Washington takes Marcus Mariota fifth-overall.

Three years ago, the Browns were one of the teams interested in moving up to No. 2 overall to select quarterback Robert Griffin III, according to Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer. Ultimately, Washington won the honor thanks to paying the St. Louis Rams' steep asking price: three Round 1 picks and a 2012 second-rounder.

But now, Washington may be mulling moving on from Griffin. The team won't decide until after the draft whether they will pick up his 2016 fifth-year contract option, worth a whopping $16.155 million. That's a lot of money for an oft-injured quarterback who may not have the full support of his coaching staff.

Washington picks fifth overall in Round 1, which could lead the team to land Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. If that's the case, Griffin's days in Washington are numbered. In fact, he could be off the roster as early as next week, traded to the Browns for a player-and-pick combo. That deal could involve quarterback Connor Shaw or defensive tackle Phil Taylor, as two options, plus the Browns' 2015 Round 3 pick.

Granted, Griffin's injury history could scare the Browns off such a deal. But signing Griffin—and giving him a multiyear deal—would cancel out the huge 2016 fifth-year option owed him and give the Browns a quarterback they were interested in three years ago without having to sell the farm the way Washington ultimately did.

Browns Shuffle Round 1 Picks, Gain Mid-Rounders in Return

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The Panthers need better offensive tackle play but may not be able to find it with the 25th pick in Round 1 this year. That's where the Browns come in.

The Browns aren't hurting for draft picks this year, given that they have 10 heading into the event. With this year's draft quite deep at certain positions, the Browns may find that adding value in Rounds 3 or 4 would serve their purposes well.

The Browns possess two picks in Round 1, at Nos. 12 and 19 overall. These picks can provide the leverage the Browns need to add more mid-round picks, and they don't have to completely trade out of the round to do it. 

At No. 12, the Browns could simply move down to No. 15, where the struggling San Francisco 49ers are scheduled to select. The Niners would welcome this move and likely be amenable to giving up their Round 3 or even Round 4 (non-compensatory) pick in addition.

At No. 19, the Browns should have a number of teams interested in moving up or back into Round 1. The Carolina Panthers, who pick at No. 25, would be a good trade partner candidate, given that they need help at both offensive tackle positions and may not find that help with such a late-round pick. In return, the Browns would receive Carolina's Round 4 pick.

The Browns then would still have two Round 1 picks, just ones that are slightly later in the round than they were originally. And if they are interested in taking a nose tackle and wide receiver in Round 1, those are positions they could still address even after moving down.

Browns Take a Running Back in Round 1

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The Browns may have learned a lesson with the drafting of Trent Richardson in Round 1—but it may not be "never again," but rather "only when the time and player are exactly right."

On paper at least, the Browns aren't hurting for running backs. They have four on the roster—second-year players Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell, special teamer Shaun Draughn (who could get carries in 2015) and the promising, if untested, Glenn Winston.

But if the Browns are in the best-player-available business in Round 1, and one of those available is running back Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon, the Browns may take the leap.

First-round running backs have increasingly fallen out of fashion, and the Browns learned an important lesson in taking Trent Richardson third overall in 2012 (though it did eventually yield them a 2014 first-round pick in trade with the Indianapolis Colts), but it may be a risk they are willing to take this year.

The Browns hosted both Gurley and Gordon earlier this month. Gordon was the NCAA's leading rusher in 2014, carrying the ball 343 times for 2,587 yards and 29 touchdowns. Gurley was destined for a similarly productive season, having rushed 123 times for 911 yards and nine scores and posting a 7.4 yards-per-carry average before suffering a torn ACL in the sixth game of the year.

It's possible that the Browns were simply doing their due diligence on the two running backs. But it's also possible they are seriously considering either player. It's likely out of the question that the Browns would spend the 12th overall pick on a running back, but at 19th overall, Gurley or Gordon could be in play.

Browns Enter the Draft with 10 Picks, Leave with 5 Players

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The Browns had 10 picks going into 2014's draft, but they ultimately selected just six players, with CB Pierre Desir their final pick, taken in Round 4.

The Cleveland Browns have been flush with draft picks in the last two years, and 2015 is no different, with the team possessing 10 total picks: two in Round 1, one in Round 2, one in Round 3, two in Round 4, one in Round 5, two in Round 6 and one in Round 7. Recent history says that they won't be wrapping the 2015 draft with 10 new rookies to sign.

Last year, the Browns went into the draft with 10 picks but came away with only six players, all drafted in Round 4 or higher. In 2013, they had eight total picks and ultimately drafted five players. Those picks traded away yielded the 10 picks from 2014 that in turn yielded the 10 they have now.

The 2014 draft class was a deep one, so it does boggle the mind a little why the Browns would have chosen to stop selecting after Round 4. The 2015 class is similarly as deep, and while it would better benefit the Browns to actually use most, if not all, of their picks this year, they may not. Last year's behavior sets that precedence. 

It's all about the players the Browns want and when they come off the board. If they are quickly seeing their top targets slip away, they may turn to trading out of multiple rounds to again stockpile draft ammunition for another year.