CLEVELAND -- If there was one scene that epitomized the dysfunction that was the 2017 Cleveland Browns, it came in the early afternoon of Nov. 26.
Mere hours away from his team losing its 11th game en route to an 0-16 season, Browns head coach Hue Jackson sprinted across the field of Paul Brown Stadium to embrace Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback A.J. McCarron in a hearty bear hug.
Less than a month earlier, a last-minute trade deadline deal to acquire McCarron from the Bengals had fallen apart as the Browns had failed to file the proper paperwork in time. Whose fault the highly publicized debacle was depends on who you ask. But Jackson's warm embrace didn't go unnoticed -- especially once the duo was joined by Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.
Despite his 1-31 record in the last two seasons, Jackson -- who downplayed his hug with McCarron -- remains employed in Cleveland and it may not be long until he's joined by the soon-to-be former Bengals backup. According to multiple reports, the fourth-year signal-caller has won his arbitration case against the Bengals, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
With McCarron now free to choose his destination, it's not hard to think of that late-November hug and do the math from there. Although the on-field action in his career has been limited (3 starts, 133 pass attempts, 6 touchdowns), the Alabama product's most significant action in Cincinnati came with Jackson as his offensive coordinator after starter Andy Dalton went down with an injury at the end of the 2015 campaign.
As for Cleveland's perspective, the Browns' search for stability at quarterback continues. And while McCarron may not be a franchise-caliber player, or even an experienced starter, he's someone who not only knows Jackson's system, but at 27-years-old is young enough for his upside to shine through with more experience.
What's more is any potential commitment Cleveland would make to McCarron -- particularly from a financial standpoint -- wouldn't preclude the Browns from also selecting a quarterback first overall in the upcoming NFL Draft. For a franchise selecting first overall for the second straight year -- and in the top-2 for a third consecutive offseason -- it would be nearly unfathomable for Cleveland to once again pass on a quarterback at the top of the draft.
But with an emphasis placed on winning in 2018, thanks to that pesky 1-31 record, a rookie might not be the most attractive immediate solution to Cleveland's near-30-year quarterback drought.
Instead, it might make sense for McCarron to bridge the gap to the Browns' next franchise quarterback.
And if he can do some with some wins, that late-November hug likely won't be the last he shares with Hue Jackson.
