A yearly tradition.
The Cleveland Browns need a new quarterback.
A statement that appeared obvious early on in the 2024 season, and was then set in stone when it was confirmed that Deshaun Watson re-tore his Achilles a few weeks ago.
Trading for Watson has been a disaster for the team and the experiment is over. The contentious quarterback will never play another game for the team that traded three first round picks for him.
The franchise has been starved of talent at the most important position in sport for decades.
Now in what feels like a yearly tradition for Browns fans, the team is once again in search of a saviour at quarterback.
Exploring the options
There are plenty of ways a team can go about acquiring a new quarterback.
For the Browns, given their current situation, two options stand out as the clear favourites.
They could either acquire a veteran through free agency, or use the second overall pick in the NFL Draft. Simple right? Well not really.
Option 1
Acquiring a veteran quarterback would provide a higher floor for the 2025 season, but most likely would not provide a long term answer at the position.
Signing a player like Jacoby Brissett or Kirk Cousins – if he is released by Atlanta – provides a veteran presence at the position and experience within the Browns offensive system.
But any deal would most likely be just a one year rental.
They could take a flyer on one of the younger free agent quarterbacks – Justin Fields or Sam Darnold – but that also does not guarantee long term success at the position.
The team would still most likely draft a quarterback in the mid to late rounds of the draft for insurance.
Option 2
Drafting a quarterback with the second overall pick is a more risky option but one that traditionally comes with higher upside.
If they miss on the pick, they have wasted another first round selection on a flailing quarterback.
If they hit, then they potentially have an answer at the position for the next decade. Sheduer Sanders and Cam Ward are the top two guys in play here.
Conclusion
So what option should the Browns consider? For me, the answer to that question is an obvious one.
The 2025 quarterback class appears to be pretty thin at the top. Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Sheduer Sanders are only prospects getting legitimate first round buzz.
However, using the second overall pick on either player would be a reach in my opinion, with neither of the prospects being regarded as top five talents.
The Browns are desperate for a new signal caller, but they should not draft one second overall just for the sake of it.
Later-round prospects like Jalen Milroe or Will Howard will be available in the second round onwards, and provide similar upside to the top two quarterbacks in this draft.
Instead of using the second overall pick on a quarterback, the Browns should sign a veteran quarterback and then draft one in round two or later.
This would increase the chances of the team being competitive in 2025 and still provides a potential young quarterback prospect for the future.
If it does not work out? You try again next year. But at least you have not put all your eggs in one basket and locked yourself into spending the next two years hoping someone you should not have drafted second overall will be the franchise saviour.
