Will the Browns open the door to Jimmy Garoppolo?

On Monday morning the Cleveland Browns finally felt like they had an answer on Deshaun Watson, and now it feels once again like he could be out for the entire year. After Sue Robinson ruled a six-game suspension, the NFL has now appealed and another third party will hear the case for a final ruling.

The NFL has been vocal that they want an indefinite suspension, and the Watson side continues to push his innocence and the missed season in 2021 is enough. The unfortunate fact is, that Roger Goodell has the power to put his final stamp of approval on every suspension in the league.

At this point, many believe a 12-game suspension could be the “settlement” but the league will push hard for at least a full year with Peter Harvey hearing the final appeal.

What’s next for the Cleveland Browns?

With the doom and gloom feeling in Cleveland, the next best option is Jimmy Garoppolo in San Fransico. The 49ers have already informed Garoppolo they are going with Trey Lance, and he has even been excused from mandatory camp.

The big issue with Garoppolo is the price tag. He’s due nearly $27 million in 2022 and is in the final year of his deal. On top of that, many believe the 49ers are going to be forced to eventually release the quarterback.

So first of all, is Andrew Berry interested in Groppolo? He should be, with Watson likely to miss the entire season, this roster is too loaded to just mail in a seaon.

Second, how much do you pay for a guy who could be released? Don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Browns have enough cap to take on the Garoppolo deal, but you can be certain that Berry is trying to wait for the price to drop.

It’s still not clear what will happen to Watson, but I hope Berry is proactive and goes after Garoppolo. I know he has an injury history, but for one year of big money, it’s worth the risk to give your team a shot.