Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren on Monday said he expects Colt McCoy to compete for the starting quarterback spot.

Holmgren selected McCoy’s likely successor, Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden, in the first round (22nd overall) of last week’s NFL draft.

“In this business, you line them up, you give it your best shot, and then we have to choose,” Holmgren said. “We have to choose somebody to play. Right now, we have four quarterbacks on the roster and they are going to compete for the position.”

Weeden, a former New York Yankees’ farmhand, likely would not have been chosen so highly if the Browns did not think he was ready to play right away.

“I think we have the best chance of making (the QB situation) work because of who the people are, who the players are,” Holmgren added. “It is never easy, everyone wants to play. But you only have one ball and only one guy can play at a time.”

Cleveland surprised draft gurus by taking Weeden as early as it did, considering his age (28) and the concern that his skills might not translate into the pro game. McCoy, whom Holmgren and the Browns selected in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft, is nearly four years younger than the rookie Weeden.

McCoy showed up to the Browns’ offseason workout program Monday despite the seeming uncertainty about his future. The team has had internal discussions about dealing McCoy, but general manager Tom Heckert said the club has not discussed potential deals with any teams.

It is not known if McCoy has asked for a trade. His record as a starter is 6-15 over the past two seasons.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Chad Conant writes on MansfieldNewsJournal.com how the Cleveland Browns have made some great choices in the later rounds when it comes to the draft.

Hence, each draft is important, writes Conant. That’s good, because Heckert and Holmgren have been nailing them in their time running the Browns.

In 2010, conventional wisdom had the Browns taking a cornerback with their first pick. The talk was they were deciding between Florida’s Joe Haden and Boise State’s Kyle Wilson, writes Conant.

There was some hesitation about taking Haden because he ran a slow 40-yard dash at the combine. Wilson was getting rave reviews. Then, the Browns took Haden and Wilson fell to the Jets at the 29th pick. When that happened, the New York Hype Machine turned Wilson into the next Darrelle Revis and Haden into a wasted pick.

Whoops. Haden is now considered one of the best corners in the NFL. Wilson is so amazing, the Jets keep bringing back Antonio Cromartie.

Then, the Browns used their first second-round pick on T.J. Ward, a safety from Oregon. No one really seemed to like the pick, Conant writes, but Ward has been solid.

More Cleveland Browns

Here are five reasons why the Cleveland Browns should draft Morris Claiborne (The Bleacher Report).

Boise State RB is working his way up the draft board (Cleveland.com).

Stanford OT is confident he can excel in the NFL (Ohio.com).

Justin Blackmon’s stock is taking a hit (The News-Herald).

Browns’ math equals Trent Richardson at No. 4 (CantonRep.com).

The Cleveland Browns had one of the worst records in the NFL last season. The Browns won only four games.

So as Jamison Hensley of ESPN writes, the Browns should have one of the easier schedules for 2012, right?

The Browns have the third-hardest schedule next season and the toughest one among non-playoff teams. The Browns’ opponents in 2012 had a combined 135-121 record (.527) last season.

One reason for this is the fact that Cleveland plays in the AFC North, which sent three teams to the playoffs last season. So that’s six games against teams with a combined record of 33-15 (.688).

The Browns will have only four games against teams with losing records. Clearly, these upcoming games against Kansas City, Washington, Buffalo and Indianapolis are not gimmies.

More Cleveland Browns

The good and the bad when it comes to picking in the first round (CantonRep.com).

Receivers are the most talented group in the NFL Draft (Cleveland.com).

Why would the Browns listen to the Colts (CBSSports.com)?

Here are a couple of football camps led by Greg Little and T.J. Ward.

“They have a tough decision to make. That’s not a news flash. I think the whole draft swings at No. 4.” States ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay. McShay also believes the Cleveland Browns should use the fourth pick on quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

While I do not believe Tannehill would be the best pick option for the Browns to take with the fourth pick in the draft, I agree wholeheartedly that the remainder of the first round will be centered around what the Browns choose to do with their pick.

No one will argue against the Indianapolis Colts choosing QB Andrew Luck and the Washington Redskins who gave up a king’s ransom for the second pick, will opt for QB Robert Griffin. Very few will argue the Minnesota Vikings will not pick OT Matt Kalil.

This leaves four very good options providing they choose not to trade down: Justin Blackmon, Morris Claiborne, Trent Richardson, and Ryan Tannehill.

I have already stated I am against Tannehill. With Cleveland likely to have another high first round pick in 2013 and quarterbacks such as Matt Barkley, Tyler Bray, and Landry Jones scheduled to enter the draft, giving Colt McCoy one more year with some tools to work with seems to be the more reasonable option heading into the season.

Claiborne would certainly be an asset on defense; however, the Browns’ bigger need is on offense. The team can shut down opposing offense all day long but it does not help if they are unable to find the end zone.

Blackmon would certainly fill the need for a legitimate No. 1 receiver however; I believe both Claiborne and Richardson are better overall prospects.

This leads me to believe the Browns are targeting Richardson. The running back touches the ball the second highest amount of times per game next to the quarterback. Richardson is a proven success at Alabama and would fit nicely into Cleveland’s West Coast scheme due to his receiving ability. He is often compared to Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, which would give Browns fans some hope. Losing Peyton Hillis in free agency also solidified their need at that position.

Opting for a running back at such a high position may seem to be a risky option, but I do believe Richardson is a special player and could immediately take some of the burden off of McCoy in the offense.

A wide receiver and offensive line help are also two big needs but they can still be addressed with the later first round pick and in following rounds. In any case, whom the Browns choose at No. 4 will certainly help to shape the future of the franchise.

More Cleveland Browns Commentary from this Contributor:

Cleveland Browns acquire four additional picks in 2012 draft: A fan’s reaction

Fan’s look: What would you do as the Cleveland Browns’ General Manager?

Cleveland Browns are not asleep in free agency: A fan’s take

Cleveland Browns’ future at Quarterback: A fan’s look

Cleveland Browns’ future at running back: A fan’s look

Sources:

All data provided by NFL.com

Paul Rados is an avid Cleveland Browns fan and a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook.

Cleveland, Ohio — With the NFL Draft coming up on April 26, the Browns have several options when it comes to making their first pick in the first round, No. 4 overall. 

Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff will have a story in Sunday’s paper on what the Browns might – and might not – do with their No. 4 pick.

Should they trade up? If the Browns truly believe Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill is a
franchise-caliber QB, they might need to move up to get him.

Should they trade down? The 2012 draft is especially fertile ground for a
trade-down if a team does not own one of the top two picks – QBs Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III.

Should they draft USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil, assuming the Minnesota Vikings pass on him at No. 3?

Should they just draft Ryan Tannehill at No. 4 if he’s available? The Browns need a difference-maker at quarterback.

Should they pick Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon, the best receiver in the draft?
Or go with Alabama’s Trent Richardson, the best running back in draft — by plenty.

Other choices are LSU defensive back Morris Claiborne; or someone else.

It’s your turn to be Tom Heckert: The Browns are on the clock . . . .

NFL Draft 2012: What should the Cleveland Browns do with the No. 4 overall pick?

Read More: Ryan Tannehill (QB – Texas A&M), Robert Griffin III (QB – Baylor), Justin Blackmon (WR – Oklahoma St.), Andrew Luck (QB – Stanford), Trent Richardson (RB – Alabama), Colt McCoy (QB – CLE), Cleveland Browns

There is increasing sentiment that the Cleveland Browns may want to draft a quarterback at the No. 4 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, even if Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck are both gone, which now appears to be a certainty with the Washington Redskins moving into the No. 2 slot. It’s not the popular choice, but again, it’s starting to seem like a real possibility with some people, along with the thought that Cleveland could try to move back in the draft, on top of that.

Still, the most popular pick for Cleveland in mock drafts has been and continues to be wide receiver Justin Blackmon. That remains the case for Don Banks of Sports Illustrated in his Mock Draft 3.0:

The Browns have a lot of different options sitting in the spot where this draft starts to get interesting, but I don’t sense they’re in love with any of them. They seem to think it’s too high to take Tannehill, and are going to hew back to Colt McCoy as the answer at quarterback. Claiborne would make sense here, but how do you go defense with your first-round pick when you’ve got a crying need for an offensive playmaker who can help out McCoy’s game? Alabama running back Trent Richardson seems to be the popular choice here, and he could be their guy. But I’m going with Blackmon on the logic that there have been more top-10 impact receivers of late than running backs. Because of that, Richardson could fall into the teens.

When most suggest Ryan Tannehill as an option, they assume that the Browns are done with Colt McCoy. But that’s not Banks’ opinion, nor is it one illustrated by how the Browns have been handling free agency, either. Cleveland didn’t make a run at Peyton Manning or really, any of the quarterbacks available. Still, Blackmon makes a ton of sense, given the lack of weapons on that offense.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation’s main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

One thing I love about being a Cleveland Browns‘ fan is the passion of the fan base. We sometimes (more often than not) do not agree with each other about the direction the team is headed, be it the playoffs in a few years or a top five draft pick team for the next five, but it is that passion for the team that I admire most.

The Browns are horrible. It is tough to argue against that fact, yet we still tailgate every home game in the Muni-Lot and still flock to the stadium every game day. We are a loyal group even if we complain incessantly.

At least we are not fans of the Miami Dolphins or Cincinnati Bengals who rank among the worst in attendance. Cincinnati had a playoff year and still had difficulty filling their stadium. Miami just appears to be apathetic about their team in general.

Not Cleveland though, we are a football town through and through.

With the offseason upon us after an abysmal 4-12 season in 2011, the team desperately needs work if it expects to be even moderately competitive next season. They have lost their premier running back in Peyton Hillis to the Kansas City Chiefs and still lack a legitimate No. 1 receiver as well as an effective quarterback.

It appears Colt McCoy is being given a chance to continue to develop. The failures on offense were not entirely his fault due to the weakness of the offensive line and receivers who were unable to make catches, but it is still his responsibility as the leader on the field to be effective, regardless of the tools he is given to succeed.

No earth-shattering moves have taken place in free agency. There was the addition of DE Frostee Rucker. It was a solid acquisition in my opinion but far from being a “game-changer.”

So all that is really left is the NFL Draft, which is set to take place next month. With Andrew Luck expected to go to the Indianapolis Colts and Robert Griffin III headed to the Washington Redskins, what do the Browns do? Do they hope the Minnesota Vikings do not go for OT Matt Kalil?

Do they go for Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Trent Richardson, CB Morris Claiborne, or even WR Justin Blackmon with the No. 4 pick? With so many needs it is hard to pick what would be the top priority.

What would you do if you were the Browns GM?

More Cleveland Browns Commentary from this Contributor:

Cleveland Browns are not asleep in free agency: A fan’s take

Cleveland Browns’ future at Quarterback: A fan’s look

Cleveland Browns’ future at running back: A fan’s look

Cleveland Browns end season with loss to Pittsburgh Steelers 13-9: A fan’s reaction

The Cleveland Browns’ experience: A fan’s take

Sources:

All data provided by NFL.com

Paul Rados is an avid Cleveland Browns fan and a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook.

Cleveland, Ohio — Welcome to today’s edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Chuck Yarborough and Branson Wright.

The NFL Draft is next month and questions continue on which player the Cleveland Browns will select with the No. 4 pick.

In today’s edition of Hey, Mary Kay! Mary Kay Cabot says the Browns should select wide receiver Justin Blackmon, so quarterback Colt McCoy with have another weapon to throw to.

Mary Kay also talks about players the Browns may consider in later rounds, like University of Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead.

SBTV returns on Monday.

The Cleveland Browns with the No. 4 overall pick in the draft select?

The Browns have several candidates to select from with the fourth pick in the draft, including LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, who will undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist.

The Browns also will consider Alabama running back Trent Richardson and Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, two positions the Browns desperately need to fill.

Or should the Browns pursue another position/player, like Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill?

Which player should the Browns draft at No. 4?

On Wednesday, March 14, NationalFootballAuthority.com reported that the Cleveland Browns are interested in trading for Houston Texans running back Ben Tate. The Texans re-signed Arian Foster to a long-term deal early in the off-season which makes Tate more expendable.

I’ve wanted the Browns to take Alabama RB Trent Richardson with the fourth overall pick in the draft since the season ended. I think he’s one of the best talents to come out of college in his position since Adrian Peterson left Oklahoma. Many experts believe that clubs should never take an RB that high in the draft, but when a player like Richardson comes around, you almost have to pick him.

Richardson is the unique package of speed, quickness and toughness which makes him a future star. He runs low, has great vision, and is solid out of the backfield. I think the Browns would be foolish to pass on him, unless they find a deal that could seal up a major hole on the roster. I think that deal could be a trade for Ben Tate.

Though he’s not as explosive as Richardson, Tate is an outstanding talent who would feature well in the Browns offense. He ran for 942 yards on just 175 carries for a 5.4 yards-per-carry average and four touchdowns in 2011. Tate also exhibited some pass catching skills late in the season and finished with 13 receptions for 98 yards.

I don’t want the Browns to pass on Richardson, but if they can get a playmaker like Tate and still keep the No. 4 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, then I think they should go for it. If the Browns can get Tate and select Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon with their pick, they would have two explosive players to help quarterback Colt McCoy for at least the next five years.

A deal for Tate would give the team some options. Of course, that depends on what the Browns send the Texans. Let’s speculate (and only speculate) that Cleveland sends Houston a third-round pick. The Browns could also pass on Blackmon and trade down hoping to get Michael Floyd. That would also leave the team with plenty of flexibility for the rest of the first two rounds.

I think Trent Richardson would look outstanding in a Browns’ uniform, but if the team can make a deal that would help add more playmakers to the roster, then it’s time to get it done. Hopefully, the Browns can make the deal for Tate and get the ball rolling for 2012 and beyond.

A native of Northeast Ohio, Derek Ciapala grew up in a family of Cleveland Browns’ fans. He has been following the Browns since 1987 and still hopes to see the team play in the Super Bowl one day. You can follow him on Twitter @dciapala.