ESPN is urging the Cleveland Browns to go all in on signing a top free agent who could help Todd Monken turn things around
This offseason is important for the Browns and free agency is a huge part of that. ESPN believes the Browns should be signing a certain QB.
The Cleveland Browns’ hiring of Todd Monken to be the head coach was just the first step in trying to right the ship this offseason.
Coming off a 5-12 season, there’s no reason to sugarcoat why the Browns were one of the worst teams in the NFL. Cleveland had one of the worst offenses we’ve seen in the NFL over the last two years, and the quarterback play was right there with it.
Cleveland has a few in-house options with Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, and Dillon Gabriel to be the guy in 2025. Of course, none of them have shown they can be the guy in Cleveland, which is why the Browns are likely to bring in outside competition.
ESPN urges the Browns to sign Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis
I’ve been hesitant about the reality Willis would actually sign with the Browns, but there’s been a lot of noise around the possibility. After two seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Willis is a top quarterback on the free agent market in March.
ESPN’s Benjamin Solak believes that the Browns should be all in on the move:
“The Browns should aggressively pursue and sign Willis in free agency. Why not? Already leveraged aggressively against future cap years, the Browns will start to make up financial ground only once they have a quarterback on a good deal,” Solak wrote. “If they trade for Will Levis or Anthony Richardson, with one year remaining on their respective contracts, they’ll be negotiating from a weaker position should either player actually hit.”
They should give Willis $30 million per year now, backload it, and let him ride as their developmental starter for the next few seasons. His tools are so remarkably beyond those of Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, and he has a style of play similar to Lamar Jackson, with whom Todd Monken just worked. This is a good marriage.”
If the Browns can get Willis, they absolutely should. The current Packer showed much more promise in limited opportunities the last two seasons than he ever did with the Tennessee Titans. Willis started three games for the Packers over the last two seasons and went 70-of-89 passing in a Green Bay uniform.
Willis threw for six touchdowns to zero interceptions over the last two years along with 972 passing yards. The dual threat ability is there with Willis, who added 261 rushing yards on 42 attempts with three touchdowns during his time in Green Bay. Monken has a ton of experience with dual-threat ability, and he wants his quarterback to be able to run.
The Browns should at least be in on Willis this offseason, if it’s possible. I’ve written about how it likely isn’t to happen, but money talks. Cleveland will have cash to spend this offseason after some contract restructures. Don’t be surprised if they at least kick the can around on this one.
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