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While the Cleveland Browns won’t throw in the towel on the Deshaun Watson experiment this offseason, they may alter how they approach the quarterback position, according to The MMQB’s Albert Breer.
With the team sitting at 3-8, Breer reported the Browns plan to keep head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry. The same is true for Watson, albeit with an important note.
“Until now, the Browns have built a quarterback room to support Watson,” Breer said. “This year, they’ll look, through the draft and/or the veteran market, to add competition to the room. So while the likelihood—because of the injury and the contract—is Watson will be back, the Browns are going to look to do more than just stop-gap the backup spot.”
One could argue Cleveland did that already to some degree by signing Jameis Winston. He’s no longer a full-time starter, but Winston is an experienced backup who presented a clear alternative in the event Watson struggled.
Since becoming the starter, the 2015 Pro Bowler has thrown for 1,183 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. Those numbers already exceed Watson’s output (1,148 yards and five touchdowns in seven starts).
The Browns fans who aren’t calling for Winston specifically to start in 2025 are arguing for a QB change of some sort for next year on the basis of how much better the offense looks.
Jim Rome @jimrome
Think how awesome the #Browns would be if they didn’t waste everyone’s time with Deshaun Watson and went directly to Jameis instead
The Browns could go in some interesting directions in free agency if that’s where they want to add more depth at quarterback.
Sam Darnold (27) or Justin Fields (25) is young enough to where either could be a long-term successor to Watson. Imagine the message the franchise would be sending if it instead signed Russell Wilson, who even at this point in his career is an upgrade over the three-time Pro Bowler.
Since acquiring Watson in 2022, Dorian Thompson-Robinson is the only quarterback Cleveland has picked in the NFL draft. If Berry were to use a Day 2 selection—Thompson-Robinson was a fifth-rounder—on a QB, then the front office would signal it’s at least exploring a possible post-Watson future.
The 29-year-old’s fully guaranteed contract pretty much makes it impossible to move on from him now. Even designating him as a post-June 1 release would put $118.9 million in dead money on the books for 2025.
But the Browns can acknowledge Watson is a sunk cost at this point and start weighing other QB options while keeping him on the roster.
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