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It didn't take long for reports to surface on the link between the Cleveland Browns and quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Less than two weeks after the report via ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Atlanta Falcons are expected to cut Cousins ahead of when his $10 million bonus is due on March 10, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Daniel Oyefusi noted that the Browns are a team of consideration for the 36-year-old.
Read more: Ranking Kirk Cousins Landing Spots Following Potential Falcons Release
Atlanta has a tricky situation on its hands in trading Cousins because of his hefty salary and the regression in his performance this season.
But Fowler and Oyefusi revealed that a team source from Cleveland said "Any veteran with starter's talent will be evaluated by the Browns."
Deshaun Watson will still be in town as the Browns just restructured his contract. This change helped the Browns spread out the cap hit at the end of Watson's contract, which expires following the 2026 season. Regardless, he is owed $92 million in guaranteed money over the course of the next two seasons.
The goal will be to bring someone in who can compete with Watson, and given the lack of options on the free agent market this upcoming offseason, Cousins suddenly becomes more attractive than his numbers from this season say.
It's been a revolving door of incompetency under center for the Browns this year. Watson's season ended after he ruptured his Achilles in Week 7. Up to that point, Watson provided 164 yards per game and manufactured five total touchdowns.
Jamies Winston didn't breathe any new air into the team. He tossed 2,038 yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in the following seven starts before getting benched ahead of Week 16.
"Yeah, I mean, I think we have a lot of needs as a team," Browns owner Jimmy Haslan told ESPN. "We have to prioritize those. We went from 11-6 and making the playoffs to 3-10. So, it's a little perplexing exactly what happened."
Depending on how the Browns finish their season in Week 18 against the Baltimore Ravens, they could end up with the No. 1 overall pick if both the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans win their respective games.
In that case, Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward would be open for the taking, but the current state of the Browns is not an optimal circumstance for any young prospect to grow.
In the last 10 years, the Browns have taken two quarterbacks in the first round. Baker Mayfield didn't materialize until last season with Tampa Bay and Johnny Manziel played his way out of the NFL.
Read more: Browns, Deshaun Watson Reportedly Agree to Massive Contract Restructure
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About the writer
Sean Treppedi is a Newsweek contributor based in the Greater New York City Area. His focus is reporting on the NFL and NHL. He ... Read more