The Cleveland Browns have been exploring every option they can when it comes to the position of quarterback this offseason. Though common belief is Cleveland will go after a rookie QB with the No. 2 overall pick, this hasn’t stopped the team from taking a look at veterans as well.

Initially, it appeared as though the Browns were targeting San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in a trade, but rumors of these talks appear to have been overblown. At the moment, though, some real momentum looks like it’s generating when it comes to former Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III.

The Browns hosted the 2012 Rookie of the Year over the weekend, and all signs indicate it was a productive meeting. Things appear to be progressing, as executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown told media members today the team is moving forward with possibly signing Griffin. This isn’t to say a deal will be coming soon, but Cleveland appears to be gathering more information to help determine whether this move will end up being made.

Some people seem surprised about all of this, considering the idea of trying to rebuild a winning football team around a quarterback who lost a lot of what made him such a rookie sensation as lunacy. Technically, this belief is correct, as Griffin has proven he might not be the best player to build around right now.

However, it doesn’t seem like that’s what the Browns would be planning to do. Instead, it’s far more likely Cleveland sees Griffin not as the future at quarterback, but as a replacement for current vet Josh McCown.

Whether or not the Browns sign Griffin, it won’t dissuade the likelihood of them grabbing a rookie QB in the upcoming draft. The team is going through a full-scale rebuild, meaning a young quarterback to use as a franchise cornerstone will be a necessity.

At the same time, there’s a good chance the team won’t be so eager to throw whomever it drafts out on the field in Week 1. The Browns took the opposite approach back in 1999 with then-rookie Tim Couch, and he ended up getting beaten down quite often. Knowing this, having a veteran option to hold the fort while the rookie gets adjusted to the NFL is the ideal strategy for Cleveland.

Right now, it’s tough to get too excited about the idea of McCown being that option.

He’ll be 37 coming into this season and is coming off some significant injuries from last year. He dealt with concussions, as well as a broken collarbone. As you can see, trotting him on to the field as your Week 1 starter is a risky move to make.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Griffin is much younger and has more left in the tank. He has plenty of red flags of his own, sure. If you’re Cleveland, though, there’s a lot more to like from Griffin playing well than what the team would get from McCown at his best.

Again, though, having Griffin as the veteran starter would come with some complications. For one, McCown has wholeheartedly accepted the role of mentor if this is asked of him. He was willing to take Johnny Manziel under his wing last year and would be a good role model for whichever rookie the Browns end up selecting this year.

Griffin, on the other hand, might not be so open to tutor a younger player. He’s likely much more interested in proving he can resurrect his career. If he does make a turnaround, it’s tough to believe Griffin would be willing to hand over the reins anytime soon. If, on the other hand, he falters again, it might cause some issues in the locker room. This same situation reportedly took place in Washington once Griffin lost his job to Kirk Cousins last year.

We’re still a ways away from figuring out how Griffin would fit with the Browns’ strategy, so there’s no sense in fretting about it now. That said, it seems safe to assume signing Griffin wouldn’t be viewed as Cleveland’s latest attempt at a franchise quarterback.

The Browns are still undoubtedly going to grab a rookie quarterback in the upcoming draft. Right now, they’re just looking at potential players to start while said rookie gets used to life in the pros.