BEREA – The Browns fired Sashi Brown and hired John Dorsey as their new general manager. Anytime there are personnel changes in the NFL, it almost certainly means roster changes are on the horizon. One change could be Kirk Cousins starting at quarterback.
Why would Cousins (4,093 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions) want to join the Browns? The only real threat at receiver is Josh Gordon. Corey Coleman is injury prone and is facing legal trouble off the field. David Njoku may become a stud at tight end. He only has two reliable pass catchers at this point. Cousins would certainly demand the Browns sign an elite receiver such as Jarvis Landry.
Cleveland is expected to have more than $100 million in cap space in 2018. This team is still in dire need of a quarterback that revives the offense and the competitive spirit of the team. Cleveland managed to join the Detroit Lions in 0-16 Hell. Dorsey has a daunting challenge: convince top free agents to turn a team that failed to win a single game into a playoff threat.
The odds are against the Browns as always. However, if Landry leaves Miami and Cousins leaves the nation’s capitol, the Browns have a golden opportunity. If Dorsey convinces Cousins and Landry to meet with Hue Jackson on the first day of free agency, things could take a serious turn in the AFC North. A veteran quarterback can make the difference and also mentor the younger inexperienced players.
On another side of the bidding war, we have the Denver Broncos. Unlike the Browns, the Broncos have an established passing attack with DeMaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. Due to inconsistent results at quarterback, the Broncos are reportedly interested in Cousins which would put the same spark in the offense that Peyton Manning once gave the team. The Broncos also have a really good defense which would take pressure off of Cousins. Also, no quarterback in his right mind tells John Elway “No sir”.
The danger of signing the Broncos is that may lose T.J. Ward and Aqib Talib. If the Broncos retain them to keep the defense intact, they should keep Cousins from being on the field too much.
We can’t forget about the Washington Redskins. After using the franchise tag twice on Cousins, this team is looking to sign him to a long-term deal. Cousins indicated he wants to stay put and both sides area attempting to reach a deal.
Which team is the frontrunner?
The Denver Broncos seem like the perfect destination right now. The team is established on both sides of the football. It seems like a no-brainer if they keep the team intact.
However, Terrelle Pryor may want to return to Cleveland. There is a good chance Pryor would sign a lucrative deal, similar to Kenny Britt’s 4 year, $32 million contract (before the team released Britt due to poor performance).
Time is running out for the Redskins. The fans have to be anxious after failing to retain Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson for the 2017 season.
Will this bidding war be as bad as the Brock Osweiler one?
Cousins has good mechanics, makes every throw, ball security, and placement accuracy like Kessler.
There is a chance that Cousins will inadvertently take a gamble and play an offensive system that has little to no chance of working for him. However, chances are be in a better offense with better players.
If Cousins stays with Washington he could fail with Jay Gruden . Washington is failing by not constructing the team right. The Redskins have no identity. They are not physically imposing on defense. The receiving core took a hit by not retaining Garcon and Jackson. Washington failed Cousins by taking something away from him.
There is a good chance that Cousins will sign a contract for at least five years and $100 million. The negotiations are progressing between Cousins and the Redskins. However, it seems likely that Cousins will hit the free agent market to sign the best possible deal that is lucrative and provides him with a chance to play on a playoff contender.