On Friday afternoon, the Cleveland Browns restructured Deshaun Watson’s contract, signaling that he will probably be again with some competitors in 2025.
It’s more and more seemingly that the Browns could have a top-five draft decide, however restructuring Watson offers Cleveland the power to remain aggressive whereas consuming his lifeless cap hit all through the subsequent few years.
The Denver Broncos simply did this, transferring on from Russell Wilson and staying aggressive within the AFC as a result of Sean Payton believed in Bo Nix, and it has labored out as a consequence of his rookie wage.
However the first spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft in all probability doesn’t have a participant like Nix. As a substitute, the Browns may look to accumulate Kirk Cousins or Aaron Rodgers, in keeping with NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport.
Each Cousins and Rodgers would seemingly be an improve from Watson, who suffered one other season-ending harm when he tore his Achilles in October. Final offseason, it took him all the best way up till Week 1 to be a full participant in coaching camp coming off of his shoulder surgical procedure. Based mostly on that historical past, it’s unlikely that he may beat out anyone in a camp battle.
The Atlanta Falcons benched Cousins final week. Regardless of inking an enormous four-year take care of the Falcons in free company, it appeared like Cousins wasn’t lengthy for Atlanta as soon as they drafted Michael Penix Jr. within the first spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Earlier than being benched, Cousins seemed utterly washed after coming off of a torn Achilles of his personal. The Browns may add him on the same one-year deal that the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Russell Wilson to.
The Aaron Rodgers saga in New York has been nicely documented and reported on. He’s the third participant talked about on this story who has just lately ruptured his Achilles. Nonetheless, previous to Week 17’s matchup towards the Buffalo Payments, he nonetheless seemed the a part of a reliable quarterback.
The Jets will probably be hiring a brand new head coach and common supervisor after jettisoning Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas from the group within the midst of this dreadful four-win season. The brand new regime’s first order of enterprise will probably be finding out Rodgers, who nonetheless desires to play within the NFL in 2025.
It stays to be decided if the Jets will need Rodgers again. Nonetheless, rumors on Sunday circulated that extensive receiver Garrett Wilson may demand a commerce out of New York if they convey again Rodgers. That would affect issues.
The Browns must unturn each stone to usher in competitors for Watson, who ought to by no means see the sector once more regardless of his huge contract. Whether or not it’s through commerce, free company or the draft, the quarterback room in Cleveland will look a lot completely different in 2025.