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Browns unlikely to pursue two quarterbacks.
The Cleveland Browns are expected to pursue quarterback help this offseason.
Cleveland has Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, and Dillon Gabriel under contract for next season. However, the Browns are linked to several quarterbacks in free agency and a potential trade to be their franchise quarterback.
Two quarterbacks that are expected to be made available are Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals and Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins. However, Browns insider Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN expects Cleveland not to be interested in either.
“The nature of both players’ contracts makes a trade to the Browns unpalatable. Given the salary cap space still tied up in Watson’s contract and Cleveland’s myriad needs on offense,” Oyefusi wrote. “Tagovailoa or Murray being released would allow them to be signed by a new team at a low, minimum-level salary because of the guaranteed money still owed by their former teams.”
Although Murray and Tagovailoa would come cheap if both are released, Oyefusi doesn’t expect the Browns to pursue them in a trade or free agency.
Instead, Cleveland has been linked to Malik Willis. But whether or not the Green Bay Packers backup quarterback will land with the Browns is uncertain.
However, Cleveland may also not land an impact quarterback this offseason, according to Oyefusi.
“With limited options and major holes along the offense, it remains to be seen whether the Browns will be able to add legitimate competition to their quarterback room in free agency,” Oyefusi added.
Browns to be Involved in QB Market
Cleveland has been searching for their franchise quarterback for years, and the team is expected to pursue quarterback help this offseason.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry said he expects the Browns to be aggressive this offseason in pursuing quarterback help.
“I would anticipate that there’s at least the chance that we would be a little bit more aggressive relative. I’ll say this, more aggressive than last year. But it’ll be targeted and opportunistic,” Berry said. “I think realistically we may be one more offseason away from being hyper-aggressive in that window. But if there’s something that fits us, fits our roster, fits our timeline, then it’s certainly a swing we’ll take.”
Whether or not the Browns will actually land a quarterback is to be seen. But, new head coach Todd Monken also knows the team could use another QB.
“I wouldn’t say it’s important to (add a quarterback),” Monken said, “but we’re going to do our due diligence to make sure that our roster, that we put ourselves in the best position we can to score points, which starts with that position.”
Cleveland Unlikely to Land Willis
The Browns have been linked to Willis this offseason, but it appears unlikely the team will sign him.
Several other teams will be interested in Willis, and ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reported that the Browns are unlikely to land Willis.
“Willis hitting the $30 million threshold as a player with six career starts would surprise some of the teams at the combine,” Fowler wrote. “Expect at least two and possibly several teams to be involved on Willis. ‘Miami is definitely in,’ a source said. Arizona is combing the market, too, but it doesn’t seem likely that Willis will end up in Cleveland.”
Regardless, Andrew Berry and the Browns front office plan to be aggressive in searching for a quarterback.
Cole Shelton Cole Shelton covers the NHL, MLB and Cleveland Browns for Heavy.com. He has covered pro and college sports since 2016, including bylines at BJ Penn, USA Today, SB Nation, Rotowire, Canadian Baseball Network and more. More about Cole Shelton
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