It's Next Year Again . . . 2025 Version

Right now? Pickett is probably QB#1, until the rookie beats him out.

Which will likely be preseason, week 1...

The list of people that could come in and be named the automatic starter is getting real skinny.

You have anybody that you could see coming in off of the remaining list?

 

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha wtf Pickett is yalls starter now
Enjoy the misery

 

Pickings are getting slim. Possibly Cousins, maybe Flacco. Probably on a heavy incentive laden contracts. Until the rookie can stand on his own…..

 

Kirk seems like a non-starter. The idea that the Falcons would be willing to trade him on the kind of deal that would interest the Browns is one I can't see materializing, and I think Atlanta has moved past the notion of cutting him.

I like where you're at with Flacco though, and I still think CLE shit the bed when they let him walk down the road to Indy.

We might be in a situation where Cleveland simply waits to see which passer they get in the draft then try to mesh that with a similar style of player.

 

Atlanta owes him $10M on March 16th. Cap hit at that date may be too high but I believe it drops as a post June 1st cut. Penix is clearly the starter and I don't think Atlanta wants to keep paying Cousins 3 more years left on that 4yr/180M contract.

Cleveland did not trade for Pickett to be the starter and I'm pretty sure they won't throw a rookie to the wolves on Day 1. They will be going after a bridge starter if they plan to a draft QB at the #2 spot.

 

You look at the list of remaining free agent passers and Pickett's 25 starts, first round selection and time in the AFC North suggests that Cleveland may view him as the bridge.

I know that's not what you or most CLE fans would like, but there seems to be little to no aggression in the market from the Browns, so I'm not seeing any indication of a line of sight beyond a draft pick and Kenny.