Tom Brady at the Browns? browns name Seven QB options for Cleveland after Deshaun Watson’s season-ending injury
With Deshaun Watson out for the season, the Cleveland Browns are left with a major void at quarterback.
Watson has been out for a year after suffering a shoulder injury in the first half of the Browns’ stunning 33-31 win over Baltimore on Sunday.
Although he was able to finish the game, Watson will soon undergo surgery and will be sidelined for the rest of the year.
With Watson gone, the Browns now have P.J. Walker and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson (DTR) are slated to start Sunday when the Browns host the Steelers.
The Browns’ roster could be down to two players in Week 11, but Andrew Berry says that number could soon grow to three. The Browns general manager announced Wednesday that the team will add another QB.
“One of the things I want to share is that we will soon be adding a fourth player,” Berry said.
“We think we have three quarterbacks between the active and practice squads.”
One thing the Browns can’t do when adding a QB is trade.
Now that the trade deadline has passed, there are only two options for adding a quarterback.
Either by entering free agency or acquiring a player from another team’s practice squad.
So who could the Browns sign?
There are several quarterbacks in free agency if you want to make an impact.
Let’s look at seven possible options in three categories.
withdrawn people
The seven-time Super Bowl champion has been happily retired since February and has yet to show interest in returning. After Aaron Rodgers went down, Brady was asked if he wanted to play for the Jets and declined the idea.
The Jets have a bad offensive line and it will be hard for Brady to survive behind it.
But not in Cleveland.
The Browns have a strong roster from top to bottom, and the addition of Brady could make them a Super Bowl contender.
It will be interesting to see if the Browns tackle the 45-year-old.
Because if that was the case, it wouldn’t be surprising if he at least considered the draft because it gives him a legitimate opportunity.
Eighth Super Bowl ring.
If the 49ers had won the NFC championship in January, they would have asked Rivers for a chance to start the Super Bowl (the 49ers didn’t have many options after Brock Purdy went down in that game). If Kyle Shanahan is willing to call Rivers, the Browns should at least consider it. The downside to Rivers is that he hasn’t played since 2020.
He also coaches high school football, but his season ended with a playoff loss to Alabama State on Nov.
- Rivers also said he could only play six to eight games if needed.
“In years past, if the team needed me, I probably would have played six or eight more games, but I’m not going to feel the same way this fall,” Rivers said.
In March.
But he also said it would be “complete” in two years.
Free players who still want to play
These two are grouped together because they have a lot in common.
Both quarterbacks won Super Bowls, but the NFL appears to have given up on both. Flacco and Foles have similar playing styles in that they have very little mobility but aren’t afraid to throw deep.
Even if one of the players plays behind a strong offensive line, they can still be productive, making both options interesting. If the Browns call Flacco, he’ll likely answer soon. The former Ravens QB said he has no plans to retire in September and would like to sign with a team this year.
The former NFL MVP is a free agent, and interestingly enough, Newton said earlier this year that he was ready to play for the Browns.
In April, Newton listed nine teams interested in the backup QB, and the Browns made the selection. That said, Newton hasn’t played a game since 2021, so it’s unclear how much he has left in the tank.
Plus, his style of play makes him want to have something with him when he returns to the court.
McCoy is a Cleveland-bound option. The veteran QB was drafted by the Browns in 2010 and traded in 2013 after three seasons with Cleveland.
McCoy’s biggest upside is that he adds a veteran presence in the QB room.
Plus, he’s made 36 starts, so it won’t be a problem if the Browns need him as a starter. At worst, he’ll be a regular in the QB room, and at best, he can start when called upon.
McCoy, now a free agent, spent the past two seasons in Arizona, going 3-3 against the Cardinals.
the most authentic version
If the Browns are content to move forward with Walker and Thompson-Robinson, Mond might make the most sense.
The 24-year-old spent the 2022 season with the Browns, so he’s familiar with Kevin Stefanski’s offense. Mond went through training camp with the Browns in 2023 and was released in late August.
The 2021 third-round pick is currently in the hands of the Colts’ practice squad, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Browns made contact.
