Cleveland Browns should sign Colin Kaepernick as backup

The Cleveland Browns have a few needs scattered around their roster, including the backup to Baker Mayfield. While several options are available in the free agent pool, the most controversial, yet most deserving to be signed, is Colin Kaepernick.

Baker Mayfield has been one of the most durable quarterbacks in the NFL since taking the Cleveland Browns starting job early last season. Having a good backup quarterback, however, is more important than ever, especially early this season.

Teams like New Orleans, who will be without Drew Brees for roughly six weeks, and Pittsburgh, who lost Ben Roethlisberger for the season, will truly find the makeup of their teams and have their backup quarterbacks be tested in their absence.

Should something catastrophic happen to Mayfield, head coach Freddie Kitchens needs to know he has a backup that can help keep the goals for this 2019 Browns team alive. With Drew Stanton on the IR with a knee injury, and the only other option being Garrett Gilbert, signing Kaepernick to a backup role makes sense.

While Gilbert looked good in his AAF career (a whopping eight games) and this preseason, the competition level is drastically different in the NFL against starters. Colin Kaepernick, while being out of the league for several years, is still itching for a chance to get back in the league.

Reports are saying his agent is reaching out to quarterback needy teams, and if his agent is smart, that will include teams in need of a quality backup.

Though a very controversial player, Kaepernick is no doubt a quality player and has the kind of experience that will help Baker and this team not only now, but also as insurance in case of injury.

Having been to a Super Bowl and having several successful seasons as a starting NFL quarterback, Kaepernick deserves a shot to be on an NFL team.

He would be an immediate upgrade over Gilbert, and could help Baker Mayfield grow with the experience that he could share with the second year pro.