The Cleveland Browns will have the opportunity to potentially solve their quarterback woes with the No. 2 overall pick next month, although even that's not a certain cure.
With the news that Deshaun Watson tore his Achilles for the second time in three months back in January, finding a replacement should be Priority One for the Browns.
Cleveland had four different starting quarterbacks last season - including Watson - and none appeared to be long-term starting material - including Watson.
But some fans are clamoring to bring back on player that found a measure of success in Cleveland in 2023 - Joe Flacco. But one insider doesn't think that will happen.
"They consider Flacco to be turnover-prone," Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote. "It’s why they also [had] no interest in Jameis Winston coming back. Flacco has started 11 games in the last two seasons and turned the ball over 20 times. In his time with the Jets in 2022, he committed 27 turnovers in the last 15 games. Fumbles are part of the turnover stats.
"The Browns and other NFL teams have internal stats showing that rate of turnovers is like spotting the other team 3-6 points per game. In defense of Flacco, he also has thrown 30 TD passes in the last 15 games."
Flacoo started five games in 2023 and recorded a 4-1 record in the regular season with 1,616 yards on 123 completions with 13 touchdowns to eight interceptions.
Out of the seven starting quarterbacks that have suited up for the Browns over the past two seasons, Flacco played the best, including a short postseason run.
For whatever that's worth.
Insider gives big update on what Browns want from rookie QB
It seems as of the final Tuesday of March that individuals within the Cleveland Browns and others around the NFL believe the Tennessee Titans have decided to make Miami's Cam Ward, the consensus top quarterback in this year's draft class, the first pick of the player-selection process on April 24.
For an article published on Tuesday afternoon, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer shared what the club is looking for in a rookie signal-caller, assuming Cleveland won't be able to grab Ward via pick No. 2.
"As for their new QB of the future," Cabot wrote, "the Browns are really drilling down into how he’ll fit their culture even more so than their system. The ability to lead the team and serve as the face of the franchise is more important to them than QB style. They’re willing to adapt their scheme to fit the QB rather than selecting one who fits what they want to do. That’s why the top 30 visits, private meetings and interviews are so important. They’re 'marrying' a quarterback possibly for the next decade or so, and they need to make sure it’s a fit."
Some previously said the Browns could select Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter at No. 2 and then target Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe later in the draft. Milroe previously played under Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees in college.
However, Cabot's update about the Browns wanting a rookie "to lead the team and serve as the face of the franchise" suggests the club could take polarizing Colorado signal-caller Shedeur Sanders at No. 2. After all, Sanders made it known during the NFL Scouting Combine he's confident he can positively change the culture of a franchise that has never played in a Super Bowl and has notched just one playoff win since the start of the 1999 season.
Maybe Milroe or Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart (the advertised QB3 of this class) could be what Cabot said Browns general manager Andrew Berry hopes to land during the draft in April. With that said, Cabot revealed that "it’s unknown if the Browns even have Ward ranked ahead of" Sanders on their overall draft board.
"Perhaps they’ve already determined that Sanders is their man," Cabot said about the Browns, "and they’re happy to let the Titans or whomever grab Ward at No. 1."
Then again, it's possible this is all a smokescreen in an attempt to get the New York Giants to trade up from the draft's third pick for the right to select Sanders.
