Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson largely regarded like a 2023 fifth-round draft choose as he completed 44-of-81 cross makes an attempt for 327 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions over two straight losses that dropped Cleveland to 3-13 on what’s change into a disastrous marketing campaign for the group.
On Tuesday, Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand shared why the membership needs to get a take a look at backup signal-caller Bailey Zappe in Saturday’s season finale on the 11-5 Baltimore Ravens.
“The motive the Browns wish to play Zappe is to find out whether or not he ought to be re-signed for an extended look over the spring season and coaching camp,” Grossi defined. “Zappe shall be a restricted free agent. The Browns may tender a contract supply to Zappe that may severely limit his capability to maneuver to a different crew.”
Zappe entered the NFL when the New England Patriots made him a fourth-round choose in the course of the 2022 draft. The most important motive he’ll be on Cleveland’s energetic roster this coming weekend is that Week 1 starter Deshaun Watson went down with a ruptured Achilles on Oct. 20. Whereas Watson performed poorly earlier than he suffered a season-ending damage for the second consecutive fall, he’s expected to stay with the Browns by means of the offseason largely as a result of they’re stuck with what’s left of the totally assured five-year, $230M contract they gave him in March 2022.
Veteran Jameis Winston grew to become considerably of a Cleveland cult hero serving as Watson’s substitute however was ultimately benched after he tossed a complete of 12 interceptions over seven begins. Grossi mentioned that “the Browns’ complete shutdown of Winston during the last three video games is a powerful indicator he won’t be again in 2025 and the crew will look once more for an inexpensive veteran QB to bridge the hole to the following younger beginning hopeful.”
The proven fact that the Browns are turning to Zappe months after he was discarded by the Patriots reveals how determined Cleveland is to seek out competitors for Watson. Some have already linked the Browns with Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins and with Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets, however maybe Zappe will appear like a revelation towards a Baltimore crew trying to declare the AFC North division title.
Zappe won two begins as a rookie however seemingly by no means acquired a respectable likelihood to win the full-time New England QB1 job earlier than the Patriots traded Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars this previous March and made Drake Maye the third total selection of the 2024 draft. The Browns have little to lose in seeing what Zappe can supply them at Baltimore’s M&T Financial institution Stadium, however historical past suggests Cleveland followers should not maintain their breaths hoping that the 25-year-old shall be something greater than a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency choice towards an marketed Tremendous Bowl contender.
