Heading into this weekend’s draft, the Browns have needs aplenty: safety, wide receiver, and outside linebacker, for starters. But how exactly will the new regime staff the sport’s most important position?

Fortunately, Cleveland now has two quarterbacks capable of starting. But this is no luxury. In today’s NFL, successful teams absolutely need a backup who can snap on his chinstrap at a moment’s notice and run the offense, be it as a mid-game injury sub or a season-long replacement.

Furthermore, the third QB cannot be a mere afterthought. He must be either a veteran with some track record of NFL success or a developmental player with the potential become a starting-caliber signal-caller.

As it stands today, the Browns are supposedly entertaining offers for either Quinn or Anderson, though they already lack a viable third-string candidate. (No offense to former street free agent Richard Bartel of Tarleton State.)

Even without a draft-day QB trade, I fully expect the Browns to select a quarterback at some point this weekend. How this comes to pass will be one of the many gripping storylines in coming days.

All this talk of trading Brady Quinn is folly. I don’t want them to do it, and I don’t think they will. Local ties aside, there’s simply no compelling reason to offload a young, capable former first-rounder who’s still under an affordable contract for three more years. He’s a heady, athletic leader who could become a star in this league.

Even if they received a first-rounder in exchange, the Browns would need to spend a high pick in hopes of drafting a replacement. For a trade to pass muster, Cleveland ought to receive an established, quality starter at some important position, plus at least a high second-rounder. Not gonna happen.

Dealing DA is more plausible but only slightly less dicey. His contract is an albatross, with nearly $10 million in salary and bonuses scheduled for 2010. They could trade him now to realize some value, but what are the odds of converting that into a player of his level?

Better to keep him around for another year, even if they have to release him for financial reasons after this season. But if they trade him and somehow manage to acquire a quality backup immediately (without using their #5 overall pick), I guess I’m on board. Big Three could still be a decent starter for somebody, but his head can’t keep up with his arm, so he’s not the long-term answer for the Browns.

Given the team’s myriad immediate needs, fitting another quarterback into the draft puzzle may seem absurd at first glance, but it’s essential for the long term.

For one thing, you can’t just sign a street free agent and expect much better than we saw from Ken Dorsey and Bruce Gradkowski last fall. J.P. Losman and Rex Grossman are the best veteran QBs still looking for work. No thanks.

So which QB might they draft who would serve as the third QB this year and the #2 thereafter?

Investing their top pick in USC’s Mark Sanchez is unwise for several reasons, unless the Mangini/Kokonis make the mistake of trading Quinn.

One prospect who has visited Berea is local boy Brian Hoyer. Don’t shoot me for daring to compare him to Tom Brady, but they were both experienced starters for a Big Ten school, seniors entering the draft, projected as second-day picks due to concerns over arm strength. No way am I predicting a similar stellar ascention — indeed, even sharing the roster with Quinn could prove problematic — but if he’s on the board for the Browns’ 4th-round pick (104th overall), don’t be surprised to hear his name called. If Cleveland wants to set up a West Coast-style offense with Quinn at the helm, Hoyer’s game fits that mold.

Curtis Painter of Purdue is more of a DA-style player, but if the Browns miss out on Hoyer, you might want to brush up on his scouting reports before they’re on the clock in the sixth round.

Ball State’s Nate Davis is another oft-mentioned sleeper in this year’s lackluster QB draft class, but a Wonderlic score of 11 for an NFL quarterback makes his selection a non-starter for me.

In short, quality quarterbacks are a valuable asset not easily acquired or developed. The Browns’ new regime would be well-advised to retain the two on hand and add more talent as the opportunity arises.