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Cowboys' situation gives credence to Josh McCown trade talks
Pat McManamon
ESPN Staff Writer
BEREA, Ohio — One can imagine the Cleveland Browns analytics department working like mad these days.
Data is entered, computers churn and reports spew forward.
The Dallas Cowboys need a backup quarterback. They could not convince Nick Foles to sign with them. They have Josh McCown on their radar.
This must be an analytics staff's dream.
The Browns were 3-13 in 2015.
McCown is a 37-year-old quarterback.
The Browns are trying to get younger and better by focusing on the draft.
If the Cowboys really want McCown, they might have to give up a draft pick to get him.
Is it worth it?
On the one hand, this potential trade would not take the Browns from 10-6 to 5-11. The Browns will try to win every game they can, but the general outlook for their season isn't exactly bright.
On the other hand, trading McCown puts the team at serious risk if Robert Griffin III is injured. The team's backups then would be rookie Cody Kessler and Austin Davis. Griffin could well play 16 games, but his past would indicate the risk of injury is high. Leaving the offense to a rookie and a guy who had a 59.6 rating in his three games last season is riskier.
McCown probably is the best reader of defenses and pocket passer on the roster. Griffin has his strengths, but McCown is ahead of him on those two important elements of playing quarterback.
In some ways, McCown is the ideal backup. He's a team guy willing to do anything, and a guy who can be trusted if asked to play.
His risk is the same as Griffin's: He has been injury-prone, and in his past two seasons his teams have gone 2-17 in games he started. Obviously that's not all on McCown; in Cleveland last season he had 12 touchdowns against four interceptions and a 93.3 rating.
The typical trade chatter and posturing has begun, though.
As former Browns CEO Joe Banner pointed out on Twitter, when the Cowboys inquired about McCown, the Browns asked for the moon. Dallas pulled back and said it was in no hurry. But with Kellen Moore sidelined and the Cowboys needing a backup, it would seem that the two teams will talk again. And if the Browns truly believe Griffin is their guy, it would not be surprising if the Browns seriously consider moving McCown.
The question becomes what the Browns receive. Dallas no doubt wants to give up a player it doesn't need. The Browns would want a draft pick. The Cowboys would start with a late-round pick, at best. The Browns would like to finagle a fourth-round pick that might increase to third round, based on how McCown plays.
A third- or fourth-round pick for Josh McCown?
Given the Browns' focus on the draft, that would be difficult to pass up — and there has to be an analytics report somewhere saying to take that offer.
There is zero indication that Dallas would give up a pick that high. But the Cowboys desperately need a backup and their starter (Tony Romo) has been injury-prone. ESPN's Ed Werder pointed out to ESPN-Cleveland that Cowboys owner/president/GM Jerry Jones has not been afraid to give up draft picks when he has a need. The Browns are building through the draft. They might be able to manipulate these talks in their favor.
Something says this trade talk won't be going away anytime soon.
Pat McManamon
ESPN Staff Writer
BEREA, Ohio — One can imagine the Cleveland Browns analytics department working like mad these days.
Data is entered, computers churn and reports spew forward.
The Dallas Cowboys need a backup quarterback. They could not convince Nick Foles to sign with them. They have Josh McCown on their radar.
This must be an analytics staff's dream.
The Browns were 3-13 in 2015.
McCown is a 37-year-old quarterback.
The Browns are trying to get younger and better by focusing on the draft.
If the Cowboys really want McCown, they might have to give up a draft pick to get him.
Is it worth it?
On the one hand, this potential trade would not take the Browns from 10-6 to 5-11. The Browns will try to win every game they can, but the general outlook for their season isn't exactly bright.
On the other hand, trading McCown puts the team at serious risk if Robert Griffin III is injured. The team's backups then would be rookie Cody Kessler and Austin Davis. Griffin could well play 16 games, but his past would indicate the risk of injury is high. Leaving the offense to a rookie and a guy who had a 59.6 rating in his three games last season is riskier.
McCown probably is the best reader of defenses and pocket passer on the roster. Griffin has his strengths, but McCown is ahead of him on those two important elements of playing quarterback.
In some ways, McCown is the ideal backup. He's a team guy willing to do anything, and a guy who can be trusted if asked to play.
His risk is the same as Griffin's: He has been injury-prone, and in his past two seasons his teams have gone 2-17 in games he started. Obviously that's not all on McCown; in Cleveland last season he had 12 touchdowns against four interceptions and a 93.3 rating.
The typical trade chatter and posturing has begun, though.
As former Browns CEO Joe Banner pointed out on Twitter, when the Cowboys inquired about McCown, the Browns asked for the moon. Dallas pulled back and said it was in no hurry. But with Kellen Moore sidelined and the Cowboys needing a backup, it would seem that the two teams will talk again. And if the Browns truly believe Griffin is their guy, it would not be surprising if the Browns seriously consider moving McCown.
The question becomes what the Browns receive. Dallas no doubt wants to give up a player it doesn't need. The Browns would want a draft pick. The Cowboys would start with a late-round pick, at best. The Browns would like to finagle a fourth-round pick that might increase to third round, based on how McCown plays.
A third- or fourth-round pick for Josh McCown?
Given the Browns' focus on the draft, that would be difficult to pass up — and there has to be an analytics report somewhere saying to take that offer.
There is zero indication that Dallas would give up a pick that high. But the Cowboys desperately need a backup and their starter (Tony Romo) has been injury-prone. ESPN's Ed Werder pointed out to ESPN-Cleveland that Cowboys owner/president/GM Jerry Jones has not been afraid to give up draft picks when he has a need. The Browns are building through the draft. They might be able to manipulate these talks in their favor.
Something says this trade talk won't be going away anytime soon.
