The Cleveland Browns are looking for a quarterback, and Kirk Cousins could be an option if the Browns want to commit to a long-term option.
At any given time, there are about 15 people in the world capable of being successful quarterbacks in the NFL. And right now, Kirk Cousins is one of those individuals.
The Cleveland Browns have not had a dominant quarterback since the days of Bernie Kosar, which is amazing considering how many different quarterbacks have passed through Cleveland since then.
Cousins is set to be a free agent, unless he is once again franchise tagged by the Washington Redskins, and the Browns could be one of the teams with genuine interest in him.
It is still early to hone in on one single player as a target, especially when the team may look to build through the draft, but it is hard to ignore Cousins’ presence on the open market if that’s where he ends up.
The move would reunite Cousins with Robert Griffin III, if he wasn’t cut, and would see Cousins step in as the starter right away, which would be a welcome change from the constant quarterback competitions in Cleveland.
It may be a longshot possibility, but let’s take a look at the benefits of signing Cousins, and if this move would even be feasible for the Browns at this point in the franchise rebuild.
First let’s talk about how this move would be great for the team, money aside.
Signing Cousins would allow the Browns to commit to a starter for more than just one season. He would enter 2017 as the starting quarterback, and would be the starter in 2018, regardless of the outcome in 2017.
This type of stability can help the Browns to continue to build the rest of the team, and stop placing focus on a quarterback position that should be solved by now.
Having stability in the quarterback position is a major key to any team’s success, and the Browns should jump at the opportunity to add an experienced quarterback like Cousins if the Redskins decide to let him walk.
He could come to town in March and begin working with his receivers to prepare for the upcoming season. It would also allow the Browns to spend all 11 draft picks on players who don’t play quarterback, meaning the No. 12 pick could be spent on a solid defensive player, or even an offensive lineman.
Cousins may not be at the level of Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, but he has led his team to the playoffs and has proven to be a legitimate starting quarterback who can successfully run an offense. For the Browns, that would be something new.
The problem with Cousins is that while he may not be at an elite level, it may take an elite-level contract to get him to Cleveland.
Everything always comes down to money. Whether it be a new car or a new quarterback, price is always the final factor.
Kirk Cousins made nearly $20 million last season while under the franchise tag, and it may take a similar number to bring him to Cleveland if other teams throw that figure around.
If the Redskins do decide to tag him again, they would owe him $23.94 million, as explained in a Washington Post article detailing the franchise tag. If he is tagged, the Browns could still negotiate a deal, but would have to give up two first-round picks to the Redskins if they didn’t match the offer given by the Browns.
So if he is tagged, it is unlikely the Browns would negotiate with him, as draft capital is more valuable than ever given the current team philosophy.
For the sake of argument, let’s say he hits the open market and is a free agent. Based on his 2016 salary, and other deals given to players like Brock Osweiler, Colin Kaepernick, and Joe Flacco, he could be set to earn over $100 million, with anywhere from $40-$60 million being guaranteed. That may sound crazy, but it’s just the market for a franchise quarterback.
The Browns have over $100 million in cap space this offseason, but that may be too much of a commitment at this point. They would have to get the guaranteed money down to the low $40-45 million range, which may be impossible if another team wants to throw money at Cousins.
Some fans may clamor for the Browns to spend a lot on a player like Cousins, but this team is not in a position to give anyone $40-$50 million guaranteed at this stage of the rebuilding process.
The quarterback position is in need of an upgrade, but it may be more feasible now to draft a rookie quarterback and let him play on a rookie deal, or even stick with Cody Kessler as the starter in 2017.
Cousins would be a great addition to the Browns, but the market is going to soar when several teams compete for his services, given the Redskins let him walk.
Related: Some potential big-name options at QB
And right now, it is not even guaranteed that the Redskins won’t offer him a long-term deal. Tagging him again would be too expensive, and letting him go would set them back to having no franchise quarterback, so a long-term deal may be the likely outcome.
So even if he hits the open market, which isn’t certain, the Browns would have to hope other teams don’t drive up Cousins’ price. But if it happened with Osweiler, it will certainly happen with Cousins.
This front office has been smart so far, and building through the draft allows them to get and groom talent at a reasonable price. Doing this allows the team to invest in players like Jamie Collins and hopefully Terrelle Pryor, while not committing too much to one player and potentially stunting the development of the overall team.
Next: Nick Mangold could be a solid option at center
Anything can happen in the next few months, but it would take a miracle for Cousins to come to the Browns on a deal that is feasible for the Browns.