The Cleveland Browns could be in the market for a new quarterback this offseason. NFL rumors are swirling about the Browns adding a new signal-caller after Deshaun Watson sustained a setback in his injury recovery.
Even when fully healthy, Watson's tenure in Cleveland has not gone as planned. Watson's injuries have complicated things even more given the quarterback's five-year, $230 million, fully guaranteed contract.
The Browns could take a serious look at quarterback with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Yet, there is also a potential path where Cleveland attempts to land a veteran quarterback and uses this pick to address another position.
Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski offered his best fits for the top quarterbacks who could be on the move this NFL offseason.
The analyst floated the idea of the Browns making a run at Kirk Cousins if the four-time Pro Bowler is released by the Atlanta Falcons this offseason.
"The Falcons may look to trade Cousins first, but they aren't likely to find any takers at his current price point, especially when suitors know they might just release him," Sobleski wrote on Thursday. "Instead, Atlanta can designate him as a post-June 1 cut to avoid being saddled with more dead money than his slated cap figure ($40 million).
"... Watson isn't likely to play another down for the Browns after reinjuring his ruptured Achilles tendon. However, his fully guaranteed contract remains a stumbling block since Cleveland can't move past it for another year or two," Sobleski added.
"Cousins can still have his guaranteed salary from the Falcons and then sign with the Browns on a league-minimum deal to be their starting quarterback, possibly steadying what turned out to be a sinking ship this past season."
Cousins' four-year, $180 million contract is slated to run through the 2027 season. The Falcons have publicly floated the idea of keeping Cousins as a backup to Michael Penix Jr. if no trade emerges.
This could be a bit of a leverage play as the Falcons attempt to find a trade partner to take on Cousins' sizable deal. Cleveland could make sense if Cousins is ultimately released.
