Robert Griffin III isn't assured of starting job, says Cleveland Browns VP

Robert Griffin III does not have the starting quarterback job locked up next season in Cleveland just because the Browns traded the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Browns vice president of football operations Sashi Brown said Thursday that even though the team sent the pick to the Philadelphia Eagles and moved down to No. 8 in the first round of next week's draft, there will be a battle for the QB job.

"We have Connor (Shaw) and Austin (Davis) and Josh (McCown) here competing along with Robert," Brown said, "and that's what we want to provide, which is competition at that position.

"We won't be panicked. We feel those guys are going to compete their butts off, get into the system and we'll evaluate it as time bears out."

Brown emphasized that Griffin has to earn a job just like everyone else on the roster.

"We haven't solved that (position) by any stretch by acquiring Griffin, but that's certainly one of the things that we were able to accomplish this offseason," Brown said.

The Browns not only received the No. 8 pick in the first round this year from the Eagles but third- and fourth-round picks next week, a first-round pick in 2017 and a second-round pick in 2018.

The Eagles are expected to use the No. 2 pick acquired from the Browns to draft either quarterback Jared Goff or Carson Wentz.

"We understand that risk in moving back that we may have passed on a quarterback that's going to go on to have a great career in this league," Brown said. "But we felt like for the other additional picks that we were able to acquire we are in much better position to build our roster moving forward."

Browns coach Hue Jackson was pleased with the trade.

"I had a big smile on my face," he said. "I was excited and ecstatic about what Sashi and his group has done for our football team. Obviously, we felt that was the best thing for our organization, and I truly believe that whole-heartedly.

"I'm really excited about watching how the draft unfolds for us next week because we're going to have an opportunity to put some talented football players on our team to add to the guys that are here. As I said, collectively everywhere we need to continue to get better. I think what Sashi and the group did was give us that opportunity, and I think that was very important."