QB Safari

[tedginnjr]

The Baker era is all but finished. Who’s coming in? Kirk Cousins? Deshaun Watson? Russ Wilson? Mitch Trubisky?

 

[TheLand1287]

Woke up ready to sell my soul for Deshaun Watson. If the whole world seems to have forgiven and forgotten that Ben is a two time rapist then the same can be done for Watson.

 

[sailfish]

The Baker era is all but finished. Who’s coming in? Kirk Cousins? Deshaun Watson? Russ Wilson? Mitch Trubisky?

Good question.
We first have to resolve the Mayfield issue. We've already picked up his $18.8M option for next year, so he'll be back unless he's traded elsewhere. If we do trade him I'd expect a package similar to what the Jets got for Sam Darnold. The best we could hope for is a package like the Eagles got for Wentz- that being a 2nd round pick that could escalate to a 1st.

In terms of possible replacements, Watson & Wilson both have no trade clauses. Cleveland wasn't included on Wilson's list last offseason while Watson seems to have dreams of a life on South Beach. So, both guys seem unlikely.

Cousins is obviously familiar with Stefanski, but he has a guaranteed salary of $35M and a cap hit of $45M in 2022, the last year of his contract. Jimmy Garropolo is in a similar situation in San Franscisco, carrying a cap hit of $27M in the last year of his deal, and Trey Lance already chosen as his replacement. The Browns could try to trade for either guy, but it would likely require re-working their contracts.

The Browns front office, of which Andrew Berry was a part of, loved Mitch Trubisky in 2017 and some even wanted to take him ahead of Myles Garrett at #1. He's a guy that wouldn't cost much and whose career they could try to resuscitate here, after backing up Josh Allen for a year.

Here's my guess, and it's purely that....

1) Mayfield is traded to a team, like New Orleans or Houston, for a Darnold/Wentz package.
2) Browns sign a veteran QB, like Trubisky, Marcus Mariota, or Jimmy Garropolo.
3) Browns draft a QB in the first 3 rounds in April.

 

[Bkerr02]

Good question.
We first have to resolve the Mayfield issue. We've already picked up his $18.8M option for next year, so he'll be back unless he's traded elsewhere. If we do trade him I'd expect a package similar to what the Jets got for Sam Darnold. The best we could hope for is a package like the Eagles got for Wentz- that being a 2nd round pick that could escalate to a 1st.

In terms of possible replacements, Watson & Wilson both have no trade clauses. Cleveland wasn't included on Wilson's list last offseason while Watson seems to have dreams of a life on South Beach. So, both guys seem unlikely.

Cousins is obviously familiar with Stefanski, but he has a guaranteed salary of $35M and a cap hit of $45M in 2022, the last year of his contract. Jimmy Garropolo is in a similar situation in San Franscisco, carrying a cap hit of $27M in the last year of his deal, and Trey Lance already chosen as his replacement. The Browns could try to trade for either guy, but it would likely require re-working their contracts.

The Browns front office, of which Andrew Berry was a part of, loved Mitch Trubisky in 2017 and some even wanted to take him ahead of Myles Garrett at #1. He's a guy that wouldn't cost much and whose career they could try to resuscitate here, after backing up Josh Allen for a year.

Here's my guess, and it's purely that....

1) Mayfield is traded to a team, like New Orleans or Houston, for a Darnold/Wentz package.
2) Browns sign a veteran QB, like Trubisky, Marcus Mariota, or Jimmy Garropolo.
3) Browns draft a QB in the first 3 rounds in April.

That would be an absolute terrible plan.

 

[CBBI]

Here's my guess, and it's purely that....

1) Mayfield is traded to a team, like New Orleans or Houston, for a Darnold/Wentz package.
2) Browns sign a veteran QB, like Trubisky, Marcus Mariota, or Jimmy Garropolo.
3) Browns draft a QB in the first 3 rounds in April.

I generally tend to agree with some variation of this.

1. The Browns will aggressively pursue Rodgers, Watson and Wilson. If they are able to trade for one of them, they will.

2. If the Browns are unable to trade for one of those three, they’ll move to the next group of veteran trade targets which is Carr, Cousins and Garoppolo. If they are able to trade for one of them, they will.

3. This is the big one. The Browns will trade Baker Mayfield away and release Case Keenum regardless of whether or not they trade for someone in option 1 or option 2.

4. If they are unable to trade for someone from the first two options, they will sign a veteran in the Mariota, Trubisky, Winston, Brissett, Bridgewater range to a 1-year contract.

5. If the Browns end up having to go with option 4, they will draft a QB of the top 100 picks in the 2022 draft, mostly likely in the 2nd or 3rd round.

 

[sailfish]

I generally tend to agree with some variation of this.

1. The Browns will aggressively pursue Rodgers, Watson and Wilson. If they are able to trade for one of them, they will.

2. If the Browns are unable to trade for one of those three, they’ll move to the next group of veteran trade targets which is Carr, Cousins and Garoppolo. If they are able to trade for one of them, they will.

3. This is the big one. The Browns will trade Baker Mayfield away and release Case Keenum regardless of whether or not they trade for someone in option 1 or option 2.

4. If they are unable to trade for someone from the first two options, they will sign a veteran in the Mariota, Trubisky, Winston, Brissett, Bridgewater range to a 1-year contract.

5. If the Browns end up having to go with option 4, they will draft a QB of the top 100 picks in the 2022 draft, mostly likely in the 2nd or 3rd round.

I can't see the Packers trading Rodgers or the Raiders trading Carr, at this point. Barring the unexpected, Rodgers, Carr, Watson, & Wilson aren't coming here and it would cost a bundle to trade for any of them. Cousins & Garropolo look to be the most attainable via trade, but their contracts would have to be re-worked for that to happen. If the Browns chose to look at a young guy, Daniel Jones could be a possibility, depending on who the Giants hire as their GM and what they do with their two picks in the top 10 of the draft.

Otherwise, the best free agent options are Mariota, Winston, Bridgewater, Brissett, & Trubisky.

 

[WorldFreeB]

I generally tend to agree with some variation of this.

1. The Browns will aggressively pursue Rodgers, Watson and Wilson. If they are able to trade for one of them, they will.

2. If the Browns are unable to trade for one of those three, they’ll move to the next group of veteran trade targets which is Carr, Cousins and Garoppolo. If they are able to trade for one of them, they will.

3. This is the big one. The Browns will trade Baker Mayfield away and release Case Keenum regardless of whether or not they trade for someone in option 1 or option 2.

4. If they are unable to trade for someone from the first two options, they will sign a veteran in the Mariota, Trubisky, Winston, Brissett, Bridgewater range to a 1-year contract.

5. If the Browns end up having to go with option 4, they will draft a QB of the top 100 picks in the 2022 draft, mostly likely in the 2nd or 3rd round.

I think they end up going with scenario 4 here.
The upper level guys wont want to come here and the Browns wont give up a ton of draft capitol
for the others. They love their draft picks.
If this scenario comes to pass who is your starter in 23? I don't think a 2nd or 3rd round pick can be your
qb of the future.

 

[PIP]

I just don’t see any of the main 4 coming to the Browns.

Rodgers: No shot.
Watson: Believe has a no trade clause
Wilson: Believe has a no trade clause
Carr: Said he would retire if he’s not a Raider

I’m warming up to the Trubisky era… I’m becoming more intrigued and talking myself into it…

 

[Kevalier]

I just don’t see any of the main 4 coming to the Browns.

Rodgers: No shot.
Watson: Believe has a no trade clause
Wilson: Believe has a no trade clause
Carr: Said he would retire if he’s not a Raider

I’m warming up to the Trubisky era… I’m becoming more intrigued and talking myself into it…

8th highest QB grade from PFF for the season, by the way.

 

[sailfish]

8th highest QB grade from PFF for the season, by the way.

Also has $35M guaranteed contract, with a $45M cap hit, for 2022. That contract makes him almost impossible to trade for.

 

[Kevalier]

Also has $35M guaranteed contract, with a $45M cap hit, for 2022. That contract makes him almost impossible to trade for.

The Browns could always rework Cousins' contract. The Vikings will be moving on from Mike Zimmer as their head coach and appear to be heading towards a rebuild, while the Browns are an above-average QB away from returning to the postseason with Cousins and Stefanski sharing a successful track record together. Where there's a will, there's a way.

 

[The Oi]

This team is the absolute worst.

 

[Phills14]

Mitch Trubisky? Are we being serious here? Outside of a backup, can anyone seriously consider him as a long term possibility?

What is Watson's legal situation? Is Houston still asking for 2 1sts as a starting point for a guy who is in serious legal peril?

Aaron Rodgers, I don't see that happening.

Russell Wilson would be great but that seems unlikely.

Cousins wouldn't be the worst and maybe that happens

Carr I would be ok with

Jimmy G would be a place holder, an expensive place holder if we have to take on his contract. Still, he'd be better than Baker

The rest... puke.

 

[Los216]

Mitch Trubisky? Are we being serious here? Outside of a backup, can anyone seriously consider him as a long term possibility?

What is Watson's legal situation? Is Houston still asking for 2 1sts as a starting point for a guy who is in serious legal peril?

Aaron Rodgers, I don't see that happening.

Russell Wilson would be great but that seems unlikely.

Cousins wouldn't be the worst and maybe that happens

Carr I would be ok with

Jimmy G would be a place holder, an expensive place holder if we have to take on his contract. Still, he'd be better than Baker

The rest... puke.

Tru has a couple things going in his favor,

He's still young and can still be molded into the QB that KS wants him to be. He's not a finished product that can't be re-tooled.

He's mobile. Mobility at the QB position is an undeniable game changer.

He has experience. He's been to the playoffs and he's played on some good teams. Being a backup on a good team right now is a humbling experience but he should have the metal toughness to handle the job here and that's huge.

He has the physical traits but his game could use some coaching. There's still a lot to work with there.

Cost. He won't break the bank. We could probably get Tru next season for less than what Baker is guaranteed.

 

[Smooth]

I’ll continue to say Teddy Bridgewater might be someone to keep an eye on with Stefanski being on the coaching staff in Minnesota..

Trubisky and Mariota make sense as an upside backup QB play but not a realistic option as a starter..

I see Cousins/Garoppolo as the most likely options, given they’re likely attainable, wouldn’t cost the entire war chest and provide an upgrade to Baker.. Contracts may pose an issue but I trust Browns would be able to work through that (as we’ve seen with recent FA acquisitions).. Fact is, if you want a non-rookie QB there is a certain expected price you’ll pay..

I’m intrigued to watch which QBs get displaced as a result of the QB carousel (I.e. Tua and Hurts, maybe)…