On Wednesday, the Cleveland Browns got some terrible news. $230 million quarterback Deshaun Watson, who already missed several games this season, is going to be out until 2024. Watson, who suffered a shoulder injury in Week 3, had an MRI after discomfort returned to that shoulder and will need surgery to repair a broken bone.
Already without Nick Chubb for the year, Cleveland is down their top two players on offense. That's a frustrating blow for a franchise that was starting to build a lot of confidence thanks in large part to their incredible defense. That defense should be able to keep them in games but if they want to make a run in the postseason, they'll need an upgrade over P.J. Walker.
We've already seen three quarterbacks Cleveland needs to avoid should they want to bring in a free agent. Now, let's check out three free agents they should consider. Some might be slight upgrades over Walker but there's also a home run signing they can look to.
3. Colt McCoy
One name being thrown around by the fanbase is former Texas Longhorn Colt McCoy. A third-round pick for Cleveland back in 2010, McCoy spent three seasons with the Browns to start his career. He was never able to maintain a starting job but he was never terrible.
He's since gone on to play for several franchises over the past 12 years and has 36 career starts. McCoy isn't known for a strong arm but he's completed 62.6 percent of his career attempts with 34 touchdowns and 32 picks. He's clearly a game-manager but this defense is built to win with such a player.
The concern, however, is how he would look if he were brought in. McCoy was supposed to start in place of Kyler Murray until he could return from a torn ACL but the Arizona Cardinals released him and went with Josh Dobbs. Perhaps McCoy's best days are behind him but it would be worth a call at the very least.
2. Cam Newton
Cam Newton hasn't played in the NFL for two years but he continues to insist he wants another shot. He even named the Browns as a team he would be open to playing for, saying he would be happy to serve as the No. 2 behind Deshaun Watson before the season began. Cleveland never took him up on the offer but now that Watson is out, they might want to kick this idea around a little.
Newton, who was the No. 1 overall pick in 2011, took the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl following a 15-1 campaign in 2015. He even won the NFL MVP that season and was electric both with his arm and his legs. Unfortunately, injuries caught up to him and he was let go following the 2019 season.
From there, he went to the New England Patriots, where he replaced Tom Brady. Newton struggled at times throwing the ball, finishing with 2,657 yards and eight touchdowns against 10 picks. However, he was still dangerous as a runner, going for 592 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He was eventually replaced by Mac Jones and actually returned to Carolina in 2021 to start five more games with the team that drafted him. That year, the 32-year-old Newton had 230 yards rushing and five touchdowns for the Panthers while throwing four touchdowns and five picks.
Cleveland wouldn't be getting the same player we saw in 2015 who dominated the league if they were to give Newton a chance. Having said that, they would have a veteran who is more dangerous than P.J. Walker — especially when it comes to running the ball. Perhaps using him, especially in the upcoming cold weather games, would be enough to keep them moving in the right direction.
1. Tom Brady
If the Browns are serious about making a run at a Super Bowl — and they should be — there's really only one call to make. Tom Brady might be 46 years old but he was still playing at a high level in 2022. Brady, who has seven championship rings to his name, finished his third season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with an 8-9 record but still won the division and made the playoffs.
During the regular season, he completed 66.8 percent of his passing attempts for 4,694 yards with 25 touchdowns and just nine picks. He might not have been throwing dimes down the field all season but he was as cerebral and accurate as ever. And even in his mid-40s, he threw for more yards than any Cleveland quarterback has in a single season.
Brady retired following a playoff loss to Dallas but the rumors about his desire to return started almost as quickly as he walked away. Eventually, Tampa Bay moved on as they signed Baker Mayfield, who has done well to revive his career. Brady has said he's done but there's no way he wouldn't consider a return if the right situation presented itself.
Cleveland could very well be that situation for him. Entering Week 11, the 6-3 Browns would be a playoff team if the season ended today and they have an easy schedule remaining. They also boast the No. 1 defense in terms of yardage surrendered. Brady will go down as the greatest quarterback ever, but if he could somehow find a way to win it all with the Browns, that title will never be challenged no matter how well anyone plays after him.