Cleveland Browns: A case for using the franchise tag on Tyrod Taylor

With there being two injured starting quarterbacks, and a couple of open spots in 2019, the Cleveland Browns should tag Tyrod Taylor and get something for him

This is a great offseason for the Cleveland Browns for a myriad of reasons. General manager John Dorsey nailed his first draft and is about to get back to the drawing table to continue his rebuild. His work so far has given the team an influx of talent, and there’s even a coach the fans believe in with Freddie Kitchens winning people over.

As good as all that is, the main reason to be excited about football in Cleveland is they finally have their quarterback. Baker Mayfield was the No. 1 overall pick and grew to be a star after taking over for an injured Tyrod Taylor in Week 3.

So now with Mayfield entrenched as a starter, the Browns won’t have to get into the free agency craze or the draft talk for a quarterback. With all that being said, they should make an investment in a quarterback this offseason — by way of the franchise tag.

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Taylor is set to be a free agent and will want to look for a starting job, and there will be some available. However, Cleveland could maximize the potential openings by tagging Taylor and trading him to a team in need of a starter.

The reason doing this would be wise in 2019 is simple to see. There will be the normal open spots for free agents — which could be Miami or Jacksonville this offseason. On top of those destinations, two potential contenders could be in need of a starter as the Washington Redskins and Carolina Panthers are dealing with serious injuries to Alex Smith and Cam Newton respectively.

Smith was recently seen in public for the first time since breaking his leg in Week 11 — and he seems a long way off from playing. Also far off from getting under center is Newton, who had an injury similar to Andrew Luck — who missed all of 2017. In fact, Carolina owner David Tepper even acknowledged a missed season is possible for Cam.

"“If you told me he took a year off and could recover and be fully recovered and everything else, and that’s what it took, an extra year, why wouldn’t you do [that]?” — Tepper said via David Newton of ESPN"

Where the Browns could come in is with the statement that followed from Tepper:

"“Now we would have to do other things, right? We’d have to go out and get another quarterback."

Again we look back to the Luck situation. After he was lost for the year, the Colts went out and traded for Jacoby Brissett of the New England Patriots. They gave up a former first-round pick receiver in Phillip Dorsett to get themselves a one-year starter. With Carolina potentially entering the market for a quarterback, Cleveland could easily get some draft stock in return.

And with Washington, Miami, and Jacksonville also potential players for a quarterback, the Browns could maximize Taylor’s worth.