Cleveland Browns: Breaking down some potential big-name options at QB

The Cleveland Browns have a great deal of cap space and are in need of a quarterback. There are several big-name options the team could pursue.

Free agency is fast approaching and the Cleveland Browns are once again without a definitive starting quarterback. Nothing new to see here.

But while the free agent options are out there, the Browns have the cap space to really go any route with the quarterback position. They can sign someone, draft a player, stick with a quarterback on the roster, or even make a trade for a high-profile player that has starting experience.

The endless opportunities fit in well with a piece published on ESPN.com yesterday, titled “NFL Quarterback Carousel.”

The piece allows fans to select one of the many quarterbacks potentially on the move, along with those available in the draft, and pair them up with different teams to see how well the two sides fit.

The Browns are one of these teams, and the options are intriguing. Going through this carousel got me thinking about how Browns fans would react to the team acquiring certain players, who would require a large salary just to consider coming to Cleveland.

Browns fans may want the team to invest in a young quarterback, or to even wait until 2018 to focus on the position, but the front office may have other ideas. With the large amount of cap space this offseason, the front office could look to acquire a big-name player, even if only to inspire some confidence in the current roster and to get some fans in the seats all season.

The following three players are longshots to be Browns in 2017, but let’s see how each would fit if acquired by the franchise.

Rumors came out Wednesday night that Jay Cutler may consider retirement, but it would be hard to turn down an eight-figure salary in 2017 if he can get out of the negative atmosphere in Chicago.

Coming to Cleveland may seem worse to fans outside the city, but working with Hue Jackson could help Cutler find some passion in the game once again.

Cutler is under contract in 2017, meaning the Browns would have to make a trade to acquire him. And based on the way he is received in Chicago, it likely wouldn’t even cost a first-round pick to get him off their hands.

The veteran only appeared in five games last season due to injuries, which is likely why he is pondering retirement from the game.

But a trade to Cleveland could help him find a spark to enjoy the game. He would be working with a coaching staff that is overwhelmingly positive, and young receivers who would be eager to play with an experienced quarterback.

Fans may initially be against this move, but if he won games all the initial anger would go away. Acquiring Cutler would give the Browns an experienced starter for 2017, and allow the team to draft a quarterback in 2018. The Browns could also draft someone this year, and let him learn under Cutler.

The problem with this move is Cutler’s health. He will enter the season at 34 years old, and fans do not want another Josh McCown situation where an injury is almost certain to happen. And if he is considering retirement, that is a bad sign from the start.

So while this move is intriguing, it is not one likely to be pursued by the Browns.

Unlike Cutler, Kirk Cousins is currently a free agent after finishing up a one-year deal with the Washington Redskins. Also unlike Cutler, Cousins is coming off a great stretch of football.

The Redskins quarterback led his team to a 8-7-1 record in 2016, throwing for 4,917 yards and 25 touchdowns. It was only his second year in the starting role after replacing Robert Griffin III. Perhaps there is a reunion in store for the two former teammates.

The problem with this scenario is the price. Cousins earned nearly $20 million last year while on the franchise tag, and could be up for a similar salary in 2017, except it would be a multi-year deal.

The Browns are in no position to offer any quarterback this type of money until the team has more of a foundation, as such a move would prevent the front office from building around the quarterback position. And for the price, Cousins has not shown enough over an extended period of time to warrant such a high salary.

Related: Browns be one team ready to make major offer for Garoppolo

But let’s say the Browns want to use a chunk of that cap space and go after Cousins. Bringing him to town would still allow for the team to draft a young quarterback to learn under him, while also creating the possibility of retaining Cousins for a long time if he proves to turn this team around.

Unfortunately, it will take more than just one player to turn things around. And for the price, the Browns would be fools to pursue Cousins after two solid, but not spectacular, seasons as a starter.

Now this is the fun one.

After being a fixture in Dallas for over a decade, Tony Romo has been replaced. Dak Prescott is one of the young stars of the Cowboys, leaving Romo in search of a new job.

Romo is still under contract with the Cowboys, but he is expecting to be released instead of traded, according to ESPN’s Ed Werder.

Romo would come at a high price, but his value should be below that of Cousins based on both his age and concerns about his durability.

This scenario is perhaps the most intriguing, as his age means Romo would only be around for two or three years. So this is not a long-term commitment, but rather one where he could come in and start for a few years while a young quarterback learns under him.

The Browns could take a quarterback early in 2017, or even in 2018, allowing the rookie to learn under an experienced quarterback.

Once again, health is a major concern, but if the price was around the $12-15 million mark each year for two years, it would be hard to completely rule it out if it becomes a realistic option.

All of these options remain longshots for the Browns, but the available cap space may result in the front office acquiring a quarterback with starting experience to hold down the position for a few years.

Next: 5 potential major free agent targets

It would be better than throwing a rookie on the field right away, and it would definitely get fans in the seats.