10 moves the Cleveland Browns must make during the 2018 offseason
2. Acquire veteran quarterback
For the Cleveland Browns to win anything, and by anything I mean single games, the organization has to bring in a bonafide veteran quarterback.
Kirk Cousins would be a nice place to start, but it’s gong to take the richest contract in NFL history to sign him. That’s fine, so long as the Browns commit to the Michigan State product as their franchise quarterback for the next seven years.
The nice thing about Cousins is no development. If the Browns could lock him up, the franchise would have to start trying to win immediately.
If the Browns don’t go the Cousins route, some local media have speculated about a possible trade for Alex Smith. Will Smith be available, though? The playoffs may determine what the Chiefs do with Smith, who threw for 26 touchdowns against just five interceptions during the regular season.
Patrick Mahomes, who was drafted 10th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, is waiting in the wings, but who knows, perhaps the Chiefs sit him for another year. After all, Smith is under contract for one more season and he’s got Kansas City in the playoffs.
Other names to watch include Tyrod Taylor, who’s due to receive a $6 million roster bonus on March 16. The Bills tried to bench him in favor of Nathan Peterman, but Taylor found his way back onto the field, leading the Bills to the playoffs.
Taylor’s been talked about as a Browns possibility before, because he’s an analytics darling.
Bill Barnwell, a noted scribe who favors analytics, wrote the following.
"“A good organization will take a look at the things Taylor can do as a runner and as the rare downfield passer who virtually never turns the ball over and see the possibility of adding an above-average quarterback at a bargain. Bad organizations will look at Taylor’s relative weaknesses and the effort required in building an offense around him and convince themselves to go after the tallest guy they can find for another year.”"
Another name to watch is A.J. McCarron.
Browns coach Hue Jackson made a play for his former Cincinnati Bengal quarterback before the trade deadline, but the front office couldn’t get it done.
Now, with a new GM in place, will the Browns still pursue McCarron? If Jackson is still the coach, one has to believe Jackson still favors the Alabama product. McCarron’s status as a free agent is still unknown. A rolling will come down later this winter about whether McCarron will be a restricted, or un restricted free agent.
Minnesota’s quarterback could also be something to watch, as Case Keenum, who has led the Vikings to the No. 2 seed in the NFC, will be a free agent. And then there’s Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater. It isn’t clear how the Vikings will proceed.