While the Cleveland Browns were hoping to bring back quarterback Jacoby Brissett, he chose to accept a $8 million one-year contract with the New England Patriots and return to Foxborough.
The Browns are reportedly considering former Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, who last played in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, as a backup quarterback for Deshaun Watson (h/t Boston Globe senior NFL reporter Ben Volin).
Winston has expressed his desire to return to the starting quarterback position, so it’s encouraging that at least one team is interested in him. With Watson firmly at the top of the team’s quarterback hierarchy, it is improbable that he will end up with the Browns. Due to a season-ending shoulder surgery in 2023, Watson only started six games, which allowed Joe Flacco to take over at quarterback. Another quarterback the Browns might think about reuniting with is Flacco.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose Winston first overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, but Winston has also played second fiddle in New Orleans to Derek Carr. In seven games (with zero starts) for the Saints in 2023, the former standout player for the Florida Seminoles completed passes for just 264 yards and two touchdowns against three interceptions.
There have been rumours that the Cleveland Browns, who were new to the organisation in 2023, will keep a couple of their defensive line free agents as they begin NFL free agency. The Browns are anticipated to have returned in 2024 with DE Za’Darius Smith and DT Maurice Hurst, but they have already reportedly lost key special teams players CB Mike Ford Jr. and LB Anthony Walker Jr.
In an attempt to replace Walker, Cleveland is reportedly adding linebacker Jordan Hicks on Monday night, but this leaves another void at linebacker.
For many years, LB Sione Takitaki has started for the Browns as their starting SAM and has also filled in at the MIKE when necessary. Walker is leaving to join the New England Patriots, despite rumours that general manager Andrew Berry was trying to get him back in the middle to replace him:
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