Per Joseph Zucker of Bleacher Report, NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic mentioned throughout the newest version of the “Scoop Metropolis” podcast that the Cleveland Browns “at all times deliberate on going for a quarterback within the upcoming draft” even earlier than normal supervisor Andrew Berry revealed on Monday that Deshaun Watson skilled a setback in his restoration from a ruptured Achilles.
Russini later strongly recommended that the Browns will take both Miami quarterback Cam Ward or Colorado signal-caller Shedeur Sanders with the draft’s second total decide.
“It’s not like they’re psyched about Deshaun Watson’s skill, management, play,” Russini mentioned in regards to the Browns throughout an look on “The Dan Le Batard Present with Stugotz,” as shared by Ernesto Cova of Browns Nation. “They know this isn’t nice.”
Watson performed poorly throughout the season’s first seven weeks coming off the intense shoulder harm that ended his 2023 marketing campaign earlier than he tore his Achilles on Oct. 20. In accordance with Pro Football Reference, he posted a league-worst 23.1 adjusted QBR and ranked thirty seventh out of 39 gamers with a 79.0 passer ranking for the marketing campaign. Moreover, latest questions on his management and his want to return to the Browns surfaced after it became clear he was recovering from his harm away from the crew.
Whereas the Browns seemingly can use some clever bookkeeping to half methods with Watson and what’s left of his albatross of a contract in March 2026, crew insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand talked about on Monday that Berry might commerce the draft’s second decide to accumulate further property. Russini poured chilly water over that idea when she mentioned Cleveland is “going quarterback” at alternative No. 2.
“It’s nearly like they’re setting up their crew as if Deshaun Watson isn’t part of it,” Russini mentioned.
The Tennessee Titans maintain the No. 1 decide and are anticipated to seize both Ward or Sanders. For a bit produced Tuesday, ESPN’s Jordan Reid predicted that the Titans will choose Ward and that the Browns will fortunately take Sanders after Cleveland indicators a veteran to a team-friendly deal earlier within the offseason.
Both means, it seems that the Browns are getting ready to primarily substitute Watson this spring even when he stays on the roster by means of early subsequent yr.
