NFL insider Mike Florio with NBC Sports has a wild idea for how the Cleveland Browns can replace quarterback Deshaun Watson this season. Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10.
The Browns will turn to Dorian Thompson-Robinson as their starter in Week 11. P.J. Walker will be his backup. But the Browns need to add a veteran quarterback to keep them in the playoff hunt this season.
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Florio thinks the Browns could work out a kind of deal with the Las Vegas Raiders or Tennessee Titans for Jimmy Garoppolo. After all, the Raiders benched Garoppolo for rookie Aidan O’Connell. The Titans benched Tannehill for rookie Well Levis.
Could the Cleveland Browns sign Tannehill or Garoppolo?
Florio wrote the Titans or Raiders might be willing to release their veteran quarterbacks if they can save money if the Browns make a claim for them on the waiver wire:
“Tannehill has a $27 million base salary for 2023. He has $12 million remaining. And if he’s released and clears waivers, he could be entitled to collect the balance of the salary as termination pay.
Garoppolo’s salary for 2023 is $11.25 million ($5 million remaining). He has $11.25 million in fully-guaranteed salary for 2024. If he’s released and not claimed, the Raiders would be on the hook.
Given the financial considerations, it’s unlikely that anyone would claim either player on waivers. Thus, the Titans and/or Raiders gain nothing by cutting their now-benched starting quarterbacks.
But what if the Browns get word to either team that, if the player is released, the Browns would claim the player on waivers? It would be unenforceable, and most likely a violation of the rules.
So what? Stuff like that happens all the time.”
The Browns have the money to do this. According to Over The Cap, the Browns have over $33 million in cap space this season. They have ample cash to make use of their emergency savings.
Garoppolo would be the best option for the Browns of the two. He’s led the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance.
The Browns have a good team. But they’ll need a better quarterback than Walker or Dorian-Thompson to make a run this January. Could we see Garopollo in a Browns uniform for the Wild Card round?
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