The Cleveland Browns currently have one healthy quarterback on their roster, Kenny Pickett, who can be an opening-game starter.
No Browns fan wants to see Pickett start in Week 1, but there are no other options.
Aug 17, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns helmet on the sidelines against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Aug 17, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns helmet on the sidelines against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
The Browns have yet to sign a veteran free-agent quarterback this offseason and might pass on a quarterback with the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft.
With the NFL Draft class so underwhelming at quarterback, teams may look to trade for young quarterbacks who have yet to find their way in the league.
The Browns Could Trade For A Former First-Rounder
Indianapolis Colts, Anthony Richardson
Oct 27, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) looks for anon receiver during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Gary Davenport from Bleacher Report thinks the Browns could trade for the Indianapolis Colts’ starter, Anthony Richardson.
Richardson was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and with the Colts signing veteran quarterback Daniel Jones this offseason, that could leave the Colts wanting to trade Richardson.
Davenport wrote
This iteration of the Cleveland Browns has been around about a quarter-century. The team has also been looking for a viable starting quarterback for about a quarter-century.
The team mortgaged its entire future to obtain Deshaun Watson a few years ago and then handed him a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract. It was perhaps the worst personnel move in the history of the NFL.
And owner Jimmy Haslam conceded the Watson deal was a disaster at the NFL owners meeting:
“We took a big swing-and-miss with Deshaun. We thought we had the quarterback; we didn’t. And we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him, so we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole. [The trade] was an entire organization decision and it ends with Dee [Haslam] and I, so hold us accountable.”
Given Cleveland’s gaping hole at quarterback, many mock drafts have the team selecting Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders second overall. But there’s some dissension as to whether he merits that pick, and Haslam said the Browns aren’t going to draft a quarterback just to draft one.
“It would be great if we could get ‘the quarterback,’ but we’re not going to force it,” he said. “We’re going to be patient and we’re going to try to accumulate as many really good football players as we can.”
Cleveland also has the first pick in Round 2 and a handful of veteran players such as cornerbacks Martin Emerson Jr. and Greg Newsome II, who could be on the trade block this offseason.
Like the Titans, Cleveland potentially adding a talented young quarterback on a rookie deal without dealing the second overall pick could be a game-changer for the Browns.
The Browns should be all over a trade if a deal does happen, and hopefully, the young quarterback can turn his career around under Cleveland’s head coach, Kevin Stefanski.
Dec 1, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) throws a pass during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images Bob DeChiara, Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Dec 1, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) throws a pass during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Bob DeChiara, Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images