Browns' quarterback derby: Due diligence or desperation?

If you're an out-of-work quarterback, it behooves you to check in with the Cleveland Browns.

At various points this offseason, the Browns have been connected to QBs Josh McCown, Sam Bradford and now Mike Glennon. Cleveland reportedly has done more than its fair share of homework on draft-eligible prospects Marcus Mariota and Brett Hundley. The Browns still could, in theory, re-sign Brian Hoyer. On the roster, they have Johnny Manziel and Connor Shaw.

It almost feels like the old Bob Dylan line: When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose.

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On the one hand, the Browns feel rudderless in their search for a franchise quarterback, or at least a temporary captain for their ship.

On the other, it's telling when the team is looking at every quarterback under the sun — all of different ages, sizes and skills — and there's no clear vision of what it wants.

Smart teams will build around the talent they have (or the talent they acquire) and not try to shoehorn a system onto ill-fitting parts. And if that's the case, and the Browns are willing to adjust based on which quarterback(s) they land, then good on them.

But ... it's the Browns.

Who is running the ship? General manager Ray Farmer can't feel totally empowered given the way his first-round picks (Manziel and Justin Gilbert) went last year and how this texting situation has knocked him down a few pegs. Mike Pettine might have more say in the matter, but he's going into his second year of being a head coach. New offensive coordinator John DiFilippo and quarterbacks coach Kevin O'Connell likely don't have a ton of pull yet.

The Browns are acting like they don't have a starting quarterback, with Manziel's status in rehab leaving him a complete unknown. Shaw can't be counted on, either, even if the team likes what he might one day become.

So do the Browns opt for a quick-fix/bridge option such as McCown just to buoy things for a bit? Do they acquire Glennon for nickels on the dollar and hope he develops? Is Bradford and his injury-torn body a real option? Or do the Browns try to go with the younger, more athletic type such as Mariota (which could cost them dearly) or Hundley (who almost certainly would be overdrafted) to pair with Manziel and Shaw to help streamline the quarterback skill sets and find more of an identity on offense? It makes a lot of sense to have your starter and backup — whomever they might end up being — have similar skills for continuity's sake.

Either way they go, the Browns are flying by the seats of their collective pants. Like usual, we'll just have to hold on for the ride until they pick a direction and go with it. Sound familiar?

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm