The Cleveland Browns quarterback situation is a mess. Everyone knows this. But things are beginning to sort themselves out, and clarity will begin to reveal itself very shortly. It will. It has to.
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Here is what is certain: Dorian Thompson-Robinson is no longer a Browns project. Former first-round pick Kenny Pickett has found a new home in Cleveland to most likely become the experienced backup. For one, Pickett can start as he has played in 30 NFL games with 25 starts. He is the new Case Keenum to Baker Mayfield. Have him if you need him, but want the other guy to be the starter.
Browns GM Andrew Berry will draft a young guy in this year’s April draft. What round and which player is undetermined. Cleveland owns double-digit picks with two third-round slots. One is early with the third choice at #67 and then later at #94.
So, the backup QB is filled, and the new developmental guy is forthcoming for QB3.
What’s obvious - is the starter. Right now, there isn’t one. And the free agency period is almost a week old. Hmmm....
The lineup
Now showing at your local Berea training facility is a chorus lineup of aging superstar quarterbacks anxious to still play and remain on somebody’s payroll.
The lineup includes Russell Wilson and his 350 career touchdowns. Despite being just 5’-11”, he packs a punch and has rushed 1.024 times for 5,462 yards with 31 scores on the ground. Never mind that he will turn 37 during the season, it’s just a number.
Miami Dolphins v New York Jets Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images
Next up is Aaron Rodgers who has played since he owned his first Blackberry who has a whooping 241 NFL starts and is a candidate for NFL QB of three different decades. The year Rodgers began was the beginning of an internet platform called “YouTube” as the “Twilight” movie series ruled the silver screen. Despite turning 42 during the 2025 season, this shouldn’t be held against him or slow down his Medicare services.
And finally, Browns fav Joe Flacco, age 40, is ready to hunt down AFC North predators and throw it to their defenders on occasion.
Anyone of these fading saviors can be found throwing his favorite fishing hat into Cleveland’s Lake Erie.
But alas, there is one more: soon-to-be 37-year-old Kirk Cousins, currently under contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
The Cousins situation
The Falcons have a problem with their former starting quarterback. They had signed him away from the Minnesota Vikings to the tune of a four-year, $180 million contract for the 2024 season. That was all fine and good and solved Atlanta’s QB issue.
New York Giants v Atlanta Falcons Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
But then, low and behold, QB Michael Penix, Jr. of Washington had a tremendous Senior Bowl week and elevated his draft stock from a mid-second round pick to being taken by the Falcons with the eighth pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Everyone, including Cousins, was shocked. Why in heaven’s name would any team sign one guy to a huge contract slated for four years, then draft another of the same position that high in the draft?
On October 20, Penix was inserted during the Falcons’ blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks, completing one throw for 14 yards. Before the Week 16 matchup against the New York Football Giants, Penix was announced as the starter after Cousins struggled.
That was the end of Cousins in Atlanta, as he did not play any of the remaining games.
Cousins is scheduled to make his guaranteed 2025 salary of $27.5 million with a $40 million cap hit. After this upcoming season, there is an opt-out clause, but essentially, he is on the books with Atlanta in 2027 for $57.5 million with an option year in 2028.
Great googly moogly.
At this point, the Falcons have three options with Cousins: 1) do nothing and keep him on the roster, 2) trade him, and 3) release him.
This Sunday, there is a contract trigger. If Cousins is on the roster, he is due $10 million via a roster bonus.
However, the Falcons have discovered that in the current state of NFL starting quarterbacks, there is a need for veteran bridge quarterbacks. Cousins fits into that category. A guy that has played quite a bit, had some success, isn’t a game-destroyer, and can come in for a few years and help groom a young quarterback.
Atlanta sees this in Cousins. They no longer view him as their starter, but they are in control of his destiny, and if another team wants him - such as the Cleveland Browns - then get ready to pay up.
Enter the Browns
Out of all the scenarios, Cleveland views Cousins as their answer for the next two years. But Atlanta has other options, namely the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are in a similar plight as the Browns without a starting signalcaller.
The quarterback musical chairs are running out. Teams can sign the ancient class for high dollars or trade for Cousins. Does anyone believe that Rodgers will play for cheap? His cap hit with the New York Jets last season was $17.16 million. Perhaps Flacco and Wilson won’t break the bank, but are they truly the answer? For two years?
The Falcons are not going to let Cousins go for pennies on the dollar. They have a commodity, and they believe another team will pay well for his services despite being benched this past season.
Could they put the squeeze on Cleveland? Would they use Pittsburgh or another club as leverage to drive up his price? With the Browns, head coach Kevin Stefanski is already familiar with Cousins having worked together with the Minnesota Vikings.
Cousins wants to be an NFL starter. He will not complain if Atlanta gives him a clipboard to keep him busy during games, but he is a player and not an information taker. Releasing him outright doesn’t help Atlanta, and they have no inclination to assist another club with their starting quarterback issues.
Atlanta Falcons v Las Vegas Raiders Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Right now, Atlanta’s target appears to be the Browns. If they can work out a feasible trade for the veteran and get Cleveland to accept the final years of his contract including taking on his salary, then Berry should be able to work out a deal.
Meanwhile, the ancient ones have come to Berea to see the landscape and talk with coaches and the front office. It just might be for show, but it also may become a reality if the Falcons ask too much for Cousins or won’t budge on trading his rights.
There is an exit strategy here for the Browns. Berry must offer some kind of asset the Falcons would be happy with. And with ownership of 10 draft picks, including three in the top 64, that seems very feasible indeed, as the majority of Cleveland’s picks are ranked high.
One thing is for certain: the Browns cannot open training camp with Pickett as the assumed starter and a fourth-round rookie as his backup.