3 free agent quarterback options the Cleveland Browns should consider

The Cleveland Browns may be looking to upgrade the quarterback spot.

It seems more and more likely with all the leaks we’re getting, that no decision regarding Deshaun Watson will be made by the start of the Cleveland Browns training camp. There seems to be pressure from the judge overseeing everything, Sue Robinson, for both sides to settle. Many think this is about the length of punishment but it seems more likely that it has to do with the timing of it. She doesn’t seem to be in a rush to rule, that’s upsetting everyone, and she could be telling them, “ok, then settle”.

If that’s the case, it may be a few more weeks or even a month plus of this. The Browns can’t keep dragging their feet and wondering what their quarterback situation is going to look like. There aren’t any free agents they can sign that would be a viable starter long-term for the team. There are, however, some guys who can be as good as Jacoby Brissett and may be able to give the team an option should Brissett be the de-facto starter for the season.

Let’s be clear, the best move the Browns can make should they lose Watson for a year or more is to trade for someone. Maybe an Andy Dalton or Tyrod Taylor for a fifth-rounder type of deal. Then re-evaluate in the off-season. But, since Mary Kay Cabot has reported that the Browns may be open to signing someone, that’s the route we’re looking at right now.

Three names the Cleveland Browns could sign

Cam Newton

Cam Newton is a name getting a lot of traction. The Browns had reportedly had an interest in him when he was a free agent in 2020 and reportedly again in 2021 after he was cut by the Patriots. So there seems to have been at least some level of interest in Newton. Is that interest still there? Newton’s shoulder has been shot for several years, and he hasn’t shown to have the same zip he once had. Yet, he can still truck with the best of them, so could the Browns have a Baltimore Ravens-like offense if they needed to. I think Newton is better than Brissett and would be, at the very least, a wild experiment for the team to conduct.

Jordan Ta’amu

I’m a big Jordan Ta’amu guy. He was amazing for the St. Louis BattleHawks in the XFL and while his turnovers were high for the USFL’s Tamp Bay Bandits, he still pushed the action. Ta’amu is someone I think could really be an NFL starter if given the chance and I’d love to see that chance happen with the Browns.

Case Cookus

Another USFL quarterback, Case Cookus is someone that showed great pocket awareness during his stint with the Philadelphia Stars. He was only sacked 11 times, which is near the top of the USFL for a quarterback with the number of games he played. He showed a big arm in the UFSL as well and had a huge game in the USFL. He threw three touchdowns and nearly led a comeback after being down 20-9 at halftime. Cookus is going to be out for at least six to eight weeks with a broken fibula, but considering how long the Browns may be waiting, Cookus could still come in by Week 1 and start taking reps as the team’s backup.