Cleveland Browns might end up being a part of the biggest quarterback trade of the NFL offseason once again
The Browns could make sense for a former first round pick who is probably going to have a new NFL home before long.
The Cleveland Browns are putting together a capable offensive line, and it’s a start toward improving a very bad offense in 2025. Cleveland’s offensive struggles are the single biggest reason they’ve missed the playoffs the last two years after making it in 2023.
Even if Cleveland improves its offensive line, the offense will struggle until it gets a competent quarterback under center. Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders will battle for the job as it currently stands.
It’d be a surprise if the Browns didn’t add another quarterback to their room which also includes Dillon Gabriel.
The Browns could be a J.J. McCarthy landing spot via trade
Minnesota signing Kyler Murray to come in and be the starter with McCarthy on his rookie deal tells you everything the team thinks about their former first-round selection. The Vikings can have control of McCarthy on a rookie deal through 2027 plus the fifth-year option, so they don’t necessarily have to trade him. But Minnesota has already shown its hand with its thoughts on McCarthy by bringing in another starting-level quarterback.
We’ve seen many times how these breakups end between said player and team. McCarthy was drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft and just hasn’t looked the part through two seasons between injuries and inconsistent play when on the field. McCarthy has played in just 10 of 34 possible games through his first two seasons.
McCarthy missed all of his rookie season due to injury but was able to start 10 games for the Vikings last season. The Michigan product completed 58 percent of his passes for 1,632 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
It’s known Browns head coach Todd Monken prefers to have a mobile quarterback. McCarthy has plenty of ability to run, he showed it with 181 rushing yards and four touchdowns last season. Holding up and not getting injured is the bigger task when McCarthy is on the move.
When/if the Vikings move McCarthy, it’s hard to see them getting more than a Day 3 pick with how the former first-rounder has performed through two seasons. For a Browns team that could use another cap-efficient swing at quarterback, it makes sense to be inserted.
Sanders or Watson may very well prove to Monken that they deserve to be the 2026 starter. Competition will bring the best out and to this point, we’ve seen nothing to believe the current answer to the position is on the roster.