If the Cleveland Browns got their way, Deshaun Watson would begin the 2025 season as the starting quarterback. Yet, after the 29-year-old recently re-tore his already injured Achilles tendon, Watson’s status for next season is in doubt.
This means the Browns will undoubtedly have to add a new quarterback this offseason, especially since Dorian Thompson-Robinson is the only one under contract. Unfortunately, aside from spending the No. 2 overall pick on the 2025 NFL Draft on a quarterback, landing a viable replacement capable of getting wins could be a problem.
Cleveland Browns may ‘only be able to afford Daniel Jones’
The Cleveland Browns seem like a fine landing spot for a veteran quarterback this offseason. They have a bright offensive-minded former Coach of the Year winner in Kevin Stefanski and Pro Bowl targets in Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku.
However, money talks, and the Browns can’t afford to throw top dollar at the best quarterbacks available. Deshaun Watson still has a $72.9 million cap hit in 2025, and the Browns enter the offseason already $38 million over the 2025 salary cap.
Their cap situation has The Athletic’s Zac Jackson believing that the Browns will be extremely limited in their search for a veteran QB upgrade this offseason.
“Ultimately, the Browns might only be able to afford a player like Kirk Cousins or Daniel Jones as their bridge quarterback. The status of players such as Carr, Smith and Wilson could dictate just how expensive Cousins and Jones become — and how many suitors they have. Cousins is not a free agent, but the Atlanta Falcons likely won’t be able to trade him because Cousins has a $10 million roster bonus due just after the start of the new league year. It’s hard to see the Browns signing up for the Aaron Rodgers circus on the heels of their failed Watson experiment, but there are only so many quarterbacks to go around.”
The Athletic on Cleveland Browns QB situation in 2025
Both Cousins and Jones were benched by their teams in 2024 after beginning the season as the unquestioned starter. However, now the Browns could benefit from the quarterbacks’ down seasons since they’re working with a limited budget.
