For the Cleveland Browns, the 2024 season was nothing short of a disaster. Just a year after making the playoffs with an 11-6 record, they plummeted to 3-14, exposing glaring issues across the roster, with none being more significant than their quarterback situation.
The Deshaun Watson experiment has turned into one of the most expensive failures in NFL history, with the Browns still on the hook for $92 million in fully guaranteed money over the next two seasons. While Cleveland’s defense held up for much of the season, it eventually collapsed under the weight of an offense that finished dead last in PFSN’s Offense+ rankings.
Now, with Myles Garrett requesting a trade and major uncertainty at quarterback, the Browns’ front office is faced with answering a lot of questions this offseason. With limited cap flexibility and no clear starter under center, Cleveland is expected to add multiple quarterbacks this offseason. According to one NFL insider, a familiar name could be in the mix.
Kirk Cousins to the Cleveland Browns?
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer recently connected veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Browns, noting that Cleveland’s financial constraints could make him an intriguing bargain option.
“As was the case with Russell Wilson last year, someone is probably getting Cousins for next to nothing, and that’s another reason to connect him to Cleveland, where the Browns are working around the fully guaranteed money left ($92 million over two years) on Deshaun Watson’s contract,” Breer wrote.
“Add to that Cousins’ connection to Kevin Stefanski, and you can see why so many are connecting the dots between the two sides here.”
At 36 years old and coming off a major injury, Cousins is far from a sure thing. But his familiarity with Stefanski’s system — having played under him in Minnesota — makes him an interesting option. His contract is also expected to be far more affordable than the fully guaranteed deals he’s received in the past, given that this likely means he’d playing on a minimum after being cut by Atlanta.
“Of course, the Browns are going to have to determine whether or not Cousins’ downturn last year was simply of an older player coming back off the Achilles or a quarterback falling off a cliff. And if they do make the plunge on Cousins, I’d guess they still draft one.”
The Browns’ 2-Quarterback Plan
Breer’s report aligns with previous speculation that the Browns will add multiple quarterbacks this offseason. As Zac Jackson of The Athletic recently reported, Cleveland is expected to bring in both a veteran and a rookie.
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“The list of needs is lengthy, but with the Deshaun Watson experiment having failed miserably and expensively, the Browns are looking for both a quarterback of the present and one of the future,” Jackson wrote.
“It remains unclear whether they’ll use the No. 2 pick on a young passer, and the team’s salary-cap situation may limit the number of realistic veteran options. But the Browns are undoubtedly on the quarterback search and will be adding at least two new players to their 2025 quarterback room.”
With the second overall pick in the NFL Draft, Cleveland has a rare opportunity to select a franchise quarterback, with prospects like Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward leading the top-heavy 2025 QB class. If they do take a rookie, signing a bridge quarterback like Cousins could allow them to remain competitive in the short term while grooming their long-term answer.