The Cleveland Browns are in quarterback purgatory. The massive Deshaun Watson trade seemingly set back their franchise years. Now, even with the number two overall pick in 2025 NFL Draft, Cleveland may be eyeing a long-time starter for their next quarterback.
Browns Reportedly Pivoting To 98-Game Starter After Losing Out On Russell Wilson
According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, the Browns and Carson Wentz “definitely have mutual interest” in making Wentz their veteran bridge quarterback:
In 2016, the Browns passed on a chance to draft Carson Wentz at No. 2 overall, making a blockbuster trade with the Eagles, who selected him there.
Fast forward nine years later, and the Browns might land Wentz after all.
The Browns and Wentz, 32, “definitely have mutual interest” this season on him becoming their veteran bridge quarterback, a league source told cleveland.com. It’s apparently contingent upon them signing Russell Wilson, who visited last week.
Wilson, 36, will likely decide among the Browns, Giants and Steelers. The Giants and Steelers are also interested in Aaron Rodgers, who was effectively ruled out on Wednesday as an option for the Vikings, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
The Giants might be the frontrunner for Wilson, but the Browns and Steelers are still in the mix.
As far as the Browns are concerned, money is definitely an object. With a cap charge of $37 million on Deshaun Watson, the Browns can’t spend a lot on a quarterback who might not even start if they draft Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders at No. 2.
To back up Patrick Mahomes, Wentz signed a one-year contract worth $3.325 million with the Chiefs in 2024. It’s likely that he’d be willing to accept the kind of bridge money the Browns are willing to pay, which is typically $4-6 million.
Here is a look at Wentz’ career stats:
| Season | Age | Team | Lg | Pos | G | GS | QBrec | Cmp | Att | Yds | TD | Int | 1D | Lng | Sk | Yds | 4QC | GWD | AV | Awards | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 24 | PHI | NFL | QB | 16 | 16 | 7-9-0 | 379 | 607 | 62.4 | 3782 | 16 | 2.6 | 14 | 2.3 | 192 | 44.2 | 73 | 6.2 | 5.72 | 10.0 | 236.4 | 79.3 | 46.7 | 33 | 213 | 5.16 | 5.58 | 5.09 | 1 | 1 | 10 | |
| 2017 | 25 | PHI | NFL | QB | 13 | 13 | 11-2-0 | 265 | 440 | 60.2 | 3296 | 33 | 7.5 | 7 | 1.6 | 161 | 45.3 | 72 | 7.5 | 8.28 | 12.4 | 253.5 | 101.9 | 78.6 | 28 | 162 | 5.98 | 6.70 | 7.43 | 1 | 1 | 13 | PB,AP-2,AP MVP-3 |
| 2018 | 26 | PHI | NFL | QB | 11 | 11 | 5-6-0 | 279 | 401 | 69.6 | 3074 | 21 | 5.2 | 7 | 1.7 | 159 | 50.7 | 58 | 7.7 | 7.93 | 11.0 | 279.5 | 102.2 | 62.0 | 31 | 202 | 7.18 | 6.65 | 6.89 | 2 | 2 | 9 | |
| 2019 | 27 | PHI | NFL | QB | 16 | 16 | 9-7-0 | 388 | 607 | 63.9 | 4039 | 27 | 4.4 | 7 | 1.2 | 213 | 48.4 | 53 | 6.7 | 7.02 | 10.4 | 252.4 | 93.1 | 62.8 | 37 | 230 | 5.75 | 5.91 | 6.26 | 2 | 4 | 12 | AP CPoY-5 |
| 2020 | 28 | PHI | NFL | QB | 12 | 12 | 3-8-1 | 251 | 437 | 57.4 | 2620 | 16 | 3.7 | 15 | 3.4 | 130 | 40.0 | 59 | 6.0 | 5.18 | 10.4 | 218.3 | 72.8 | 41.9 | 50 | 326 | 10.27 | 4.71 | 3.98 | 3 | 2 | 5 | |
| 2021 | 29 | IND | NFL | QB | 17 | 17 | 9-8-0 | 322 | 516 | 62.4 | 3563 | 27 | 5.2 | 7 | 1.4 | 165 | 44.0 | 76 | 6.9 | 7.34 | 11.1 | 209.6 | 94.6 | 60.6 | 32 | 227 | 5.84 | 6.09 | 6.50 | 0 | 0 | 14 | |
| 2022 | 30 | WAS | NFL | QB | 8 | 7 | 2-5-0 | 172 | 276 | 62.3 | 1755 | 11 | 4.0 | 9 | 3.3 | 85 | 42.4 | 75 | 6.4 | 5.69 | 10.2 | 219.4 | 80.2 | 34.4 | 26 | 159 | 8.61 | 5.28 | 4.67 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2023 | 31 | LAR | NFL | QB | 2 | 1 | 1-0-0 | 17 | 24 | 70.8 | 163 | 2 | 8.3 | 1 | 4.2 | 11 | 57.7 | 29 | 6.8 | 6.58 | 9.6 | 81.5 | 99.8 | 89.9 | 2 | 14 | 7.69 | 5.73 | 5.54 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 32 | KAN | NFL | QB | 3 | 1 | 0-1-0 | 12 | 19 | 63.2 | 118 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 5 | 26.1 | 25 | 6.2 | 6.21 | 9.8 | 39.3 | 80.6 | 22.9 | 4 | 22 | 17.39 | 4.17 | 4.17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 Yrs | 98 | 94 | 47-46-1 | 2085 | 3327 | 62.7 | 22410 | 153 | 4.6 | 67 | 2.0 | 1121 | 45.1 | 76 | 6.7 | 6.75 | 10.7 | 228.7 | 89.3 | 243 | 1555 | 6.81 | 5.84 | 5.85 | 12 | 13 | 68 | ||||||
| 17 Game Avg | 17 | 16 | 47-46-1 | 362 | 577 | 62.7 | 3887 | 27 | 4.6 | 12 | 2.0 | 194 | 45.1 | 76 | 6.7 | 6.75 | 10.7 | 228.7 | 89.3 | 42 | 270 | 6.81 | 5.84 | 5.85 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||||||
| PHI (5 Yrs) | 68 | 68 | 35-32-1 | 1562 | 2492 | 62.7 | 16811 | 113 | 4.5 | 50 | 2.0 | 855 | 45.7 | 73 | 6.7 | 6.75 | 10.8 | 247.2 | 89.2 | 179 | 1133 | 6.70 | 5.87 | 5.87 | 9 | 10 | 49 | ||||||
| IND (1 Yr) | 17 | 17 | 9-8-0 | 322 | 516 | 62.4 | 3563 | 27 | 5.2 | 7 | 1.4 | 165 | 44.0 | 76 | 6.9 | 7.34 | 11.1 | 209.6 | 94.6 | 32 | 227 | 5.84 | 6.09 | 6.50 | 0 | 0 | 14 | ||||||
| WAS (1 Yr) | 8 | 7 | 2-5-0 | 172 | 276 | 62.3 | 1755 | 11 | 4.0 | 9 | 3.3 | 85 | 42.4 | 75 | 6.4 | 5.69 | 10.2 | 219.4 | 80.2 | 26 | 159 | 8.61 | 5.28 | 4.67 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||||
| KAN (1 Yr) | 3 | 1 | 0-1-0 | 12 | 19 | 63.2 | 118 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 5 | 26.1 | 25 | 6.2 | 6.21 | 9.8 | 39.3 | 80.6 | 4 | 22 | 17.39 | 4.17 | 4.17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| LAR (1 Yr) | 2 | 1 | 1-0-0 | 17 | 24 | 70.8 | 163 | 2 | 8.3 | 1 | 4.2 | 11 | 57.7 | 29 | 6.8 | 6.58 | 9.6 | 81.5 | 99.8 | 2 | 14 | 7.69 | 5.73 | 5.54 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
