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3 options at quarterback if the Cleveland Browns panic

By Greg Newland

Jan 9, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes against the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes against the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Browns
Jan 2, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) calls a play at the line against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

Cleveland Browns 2022 Quarterback Option No. 3 – Matt Ryan

There are a few guys I really like to bring in as backups for Baker Mayfield in 2022, but I want to focus on guys that legitimately make this roster better. One guy the Cleveland Browns could trade for is Matt Ryan from the Atlanta Falcons. After a few down years and their best receiver being suspended for the year, they could be entering full rebuild mode.

People will likely want to argue that Ryan won’t make this roster any better, but this guy doesn’t get near the credit he deserves. He has a career completion percentage of over 65 percent and has thrown for nearly 60,000 yards. Not to mention, 10 of the last 11 seasons he has thrown for well over 4,000 yards which Mayfield has not once done.

With a 120-102 record for his career, Ryan has won a ton of games, and with not always the most talented roster. The guy has never thrown more than 16 interceptions in a season and has thrown for less than 20 touchdowns in a season only once since 2008 (with nine seasons throwing more than 25).

The only issue with Ryan is his $48 million cap hit in 2022, and $43 million hit in 2023. If he were willing to restructure for the next two seasons and take closer to $30 million a year, I would be thrilled as a Browns fan to have him as a bridge quarterback.

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