Former Browns QB Expected To Join Patriots, Browns Showing Interest In Jameis Winston
The first major quarterback domino of the offseason fell on Monday with news that Kirk Cousins was leaving Minnesota to join the Atlanta Falcons on a four-year, $180 million deal.
How the rest of the QB market shakes out is largely to be determined but the Browns are expected to be part of it as they shop for a backup quarterback to Deshaun Watson. One former Browns backup is officially off the market though for Cleveland.
31-year-old, Jacoby Brissett inked a one-year deal to join the Patriots on Monday, rejoining the team that drafted him in 2016. Brissett will be reunited with ex-Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. The Browns relieved Van Pelt of his duties earlier this offseason, hiring Ken Dorsey in his place.
While Brissett may be off the table the Browns have reportedly shown interest in several other veteran backups. According to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe, Cleveland has an offer on the table for for former No. 2 overall pick Sam Darnold. Darnold is reportedly mulling over offers from the Browns and Vikings.
Volin also notes that Cleveland has expressed interest in Saints free agent QB Jameis Winston as well.
Much has been made this offseason of a potential reunion with Joe Flacco, who was the Maestro of an unforgettable run at the end of last season that helped propel the Browns to a wild card berth, as well. The 39-year-old became the feel good story of the league after joining Cleveland in Week 12. The Super Bowl MVP went 4-1 in his five starts, throwing for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns down the stretch of the season.
While Flacco has said publicly that he'd welcome an opportunity to return to Cleveland, he's also expected to test the free agent market in hopes of landing a starting job somewhere.
Those opportunities seem to be few and far between for Flacco after Monday's movement at the position. One spot he was linked to in recent weeks was New England, but with Brissett heading there instead it could mean a Flacco return is more likely that it may have initially seemed earlier this offseason.
