Browns QB room is going to look completely different. DTR is not a NFL QB, Deshaun Watson is not an NFL starter, and is injured, and Jameis Winston is fun for a 3-14 team, but not fun for a team that wants to make the playoffs. Watson’s PFF passing grade was 63.4, ranking 45/75 QBs. Jameis Winston’s PFF passing grade was 69.9, which is 35th/75 QBs. DTR’s PFF passing grade was 39.3, which is 74/75 QBs. Here are some free agency options at QB, how much they make sense, and how realistic they are.

Kirk Cousins:

Kirk Cousins had a rough year coming off his Achillies tear in week 8 of the 2023 season. In 2024 he had passing grade of 72.3, which is 29/75 QBs. He is also tied with Mayfield for most interceptions, at 16. Michael Penix outperformed Kirk Cousins, so it will be easy for the Falcons to cut him. Due to his age, leading the league in interceptions, and bad season of play, he will likely be cut by the Falcons, and will get a cheap Russel Wilson type deal in free agency. So why would the Browns want to sign him? Well, players normally play bad the year after their Achillies injury and bounce back the year after that. If Kirk Cousins can bounce back to his previous self, he could be a major get. In 2023, before his Achillies tear, he had a passing PFF grade of 85.1, which is 4th/77 QBs. In 2022, his last full season, he had a 76.1 pff passing grade, which is 10th/82 QBs. He had 4547 passing yards (4th among QBs) and 29 passing touchdowns (5th out of QBs). On the other hand, he also had 14 interceptions.

Derek Carr:

Derek Carr had a passing PFF grade of 86.7(7/75 QBs) in 2024. In his last full season, 2023, he had 3878 passing yards (13th out of QBs) and 25 touchdown passes (10th out of QB’s). His passing grade was 77(20/77 QBs). However, he had 8 interceptions. While Kirk Cousins has had better numbers before his Achillies, Derek Carr is still playing at a solid level and is younger. Saints have the least cap space in the NFL this year and may not find Carr worth his contract. At the same time, the Saints don’t have another option at QB, so this makes the Saints cutting Derek Carr not realistic. His recent play hasn’t warranted getting cut, unlike Kirk Cousins. However, if cut, Derek Carr could be affordable in free agency for the Browns.

Geno Smith:

Geno Smith has a passing PFF grade of 81.9(7/75 QBs). He has 4320 passing yards (4th out of QBs) and 21 passing touchdowns (13th out of QBs). However, Smith threw 15 interceptions. Geno Smith has been an above average QB since being the seahawks starter. His play hasn’t warranted him being cut. However, Geno Smith has a 44 million dollar cap hit in 2025. The seahawks, who are 27 million dollars over the cap (-27 million dollars of cap space) Can’t afford to eat the 44 million dollars in 2025. They have 2 options. 1 is to extend Geno Smith, and kick that 44 million dollars down the road to the future years on his contract. This would lead to them paying him more in future years then they may want. Their second option is to cut him and save 33 million and find a cheaper option at QB.

Jacoby Brissett:

Jacoby Brissett has not been good on this putrid Patriot’s offense. He had a passing PFF grade of 58.5(59/75 QBs). However, when he was on the Browns in 2022, he had a passing grade of 75.2(13/82 QBs). What Jacoby Brissett consistently does well throughout his career is take care of the ball. A stat called interception percent has Jacoby Brissett with a 1.4 interception %, which is tied with Aaron Rodgers for the lowest career interception percent by any QB all time. This is intriguing as losing the turnover battle has been a big part of why the browns are 3-14, and the other veteran options have a tendency to throw interceptions.

In conclusion, Kirk Cousins, Derek Carr, Geno Smith, and Jacoby Brissett are all good options that would be better than anything the Browns had last season. The Browns needs to move away from an offense that revolves around the QB, we can no longer rely on excellence at the QB position. We need to rely on the trenches, and the run game. The Browns need to build a supporting cast in 2025 and draft a QB in 2026.

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