Feels like déjà vu for the Cleveland Browns at quarterback

The Cleveland Browns supposedly told Baker Mayfield he was the guy in 2022, are they telling the same thing to Jacoby Brissett now to set up leverage?

It doesn’t feel like that long ago when news broke that the Cleveland Browns would be trading for Deshaun Watson. On that Friday in March, we had no idea how long Watson would be suspended, but ownership and the front office believed that he was the missing piece.

It’s easy to sit here and torch them for giving up so many picks for a guy that is suspended for 11 games, but we all know you can’t win a Super Bowl without an elite quarterback.

With the Watson dust all settled and the punishment official, we are starting to hear rumblings from reporters that the Browns are set with Jacoby Brissett as their starter for the first 11 games of the 2022 season. Previously there was thought (by many), that Jimmy Garoppolo could be in play as the 49ers may be forced to release him if no trade partner is found.

I can’t help but think back to February and early March when the Watson trade rumors started. The media hinted that the Browns were interested, but it always felt like a long shot. Then shortly after reports came out that they were set with Baker Mayfield as their starter for the 2022 season.

2021 wasn’t a great year for Mayfield, not only was he injured but injuries also decimated his tackles and he was constantly under pressure. Still, not long after backing him, boom, the Browns landed Watson. We will never know the truth, but Mayfield did show displeasure in being caught off guard by the move.

Are we seeing the same thing with Brissett right now? Are Andrew Berry and this front office trying to find some leverage to get Garoppolo to Cleveland? I like Brissett and think he’s a fantastic backup to have, but I’m also not excited about him starting 11 games either.

Garoppolo certainly has some significant question marks with his injury history, but one thing we can’t deny, the guy knows how to win games.  I’m not sure how big of an upgrade he would be, but I think it’s certainly worth the risk with how good the rest of this roster is right now.