As the Brownskick around the idea of signing Robert Griffin III as a reclamation project and drafting another quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick, Josh McCown is left dangling in the wind.
New coach Hue Jackson is making no promises regarding McCown's future in Cleveland.
"He's not going to be the reason why we don't try to get better, and he's not the reason why we're trying to get better," Jackson said this week, via The Plain Dealer. "We're just going to unturn every rock that we can, as I said, at every position and see how it fits for us, and then we'll make those decisions as we go."
McCown never had a chance for success in his one season (2014) leading a talent-starved Buccaneers roster, but his numbers in 16 games and 13 starts with the Bears (2013) and Browns (2015) are noteworthy: 3,938 yards, 64.9 completion rate, 7.6 yards per attempt, 25:5 TD-to-INT ratio and 100.1 passer rating.
Brought in by the previous regime as the ideal mentor for Johnny Manziel, McCown has made it clear that he's willing to play the same role with a rookie quarterback this year.
"My expectation is to come into work and be available and be ready to do whatever's asked of me," McCown said in February. "If that's to bring along a draft pick and to start until that guy's ready, then I'm willing to do that. If that's to go the full 16, I'm excited about doing that."
If not for his age (36) and a fearless playing style bordering on recklessness, Jackson would be more excited about the prospect of going "the full 16" with McCown.
Should the Browns' new regime decide to make McCown available via trade or release, he's sure to attract interest as a "bridge" quarterback.
While the NFL's quarterback carousel continues to revolve, McCown is a name to watch.
