Sunday, February 17, 2013
Mallett's trade value
By Tom Carpenter
The Cleveland Browns aimed to draft their quarterback of the future last year in Brandon Weeden, but the jury is out on that and a new regime is in charge of the Browns. With that in mind, it's been presumed that they would target a quarterback in the draft, via free agency or a trade this offseason. That's exactly what Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer expects to transpire, though she doesn't see the New England Patriots' Ryan Mallett as a likely option.
"I think the Browns will make every effort to upgrade the position, either through free agency, the draft or a trade," she wrote. "... I still hear that Patriots backup Ryan Mallett won't be an option."
As for whether the Pats will or should trade Tom Brady's backup, ESPN AFC East blogger James Walker opines:
James Walker
Should the Patriots trade Ryan Mallett?"The 2011 third-round pick has a strong arm and lot of potential. There have been reports that quarterback-needy teams might show interest in Mallett this offseason. The Cleveland Browns, for example, have been linked to Mallett based on the hire of new vice president of personnel Mike Lombardi. He has strong ties to his mentor, Bill Belichick, and Lombardi said in the past that Mallett was the best quarterback in the 2011 draft. Another reason New England could trade Mallett is its shortage of draft picks. The Patriots have just five picks in April after trading away picks in the fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds. Trading Mallett could fill some of those holes in New England’s draft class. The Patriots are in the driver's seat. It's not a must that they trade Mallett. But Brady's elite play affords New England the flexibility if another team falls in love with Mallett. New England has plenty of time to groom another prospect at quarterback."
