NFL off-season is in full swing as rumors swirl following the conclusion of the NFL scouting combine. In what has been touted as the most pivotal off-season in franchise history, the Cleveland Browns had plenty of free agency, draft, and trade rumors surrounding them. One rumor to note surrounds the quarterback position and three free agent/potential free agent options that the Browns may have an interest in. Today, I will break down each of these options and discuss why, or why not I like their fit as a quarterback on the Cleveland Browns roster going into the 2025 season and beyond.

Carson Wentz, Previous Team: Kansas City Chiefs

Carson Wentz is a flat-out no for me. While Wentz has had success before in the league, performing at an MVP level at one point during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles before being injured in their Super Bowl LII winning season, Wentz has been labeled as a locker-room liability and having an ego. While this may have changed during his time as the backup in Kansas City, a franchise with a strong culture, I still do not want to take the risk of adding someone who could deflate morale even more after what was a failure of a 2024 season.

Daniel Jones, Previous Team: Minnesota Vikings

Daniel Jones makes for a more interesting prospect to add to the Cleveland Browns’ 2025 roster, but I would still pass on him. Jones had his ups, but mostly downs during his time as the starter in New York which led to him, ultimately being cut and signed by the Vikings during the 2024 NFL Season. Jones, the number 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft has not shown much of any indication that he could be the answer for a quarterback-needy team. Having Jones be the Browns’ main option at the quarterback position for 2025 does not bode well for a team trying to convince their star edge rusher, Myles Garrett that the team is not in, nor heading toward a rebuild.

Kirk Cousins, Current Team: Atlanta Falcons

Kirk Cousins has always been the best realistic fit for the Cleveland Browns. Despite not yet being cut by the Atlanta Falcons, and Falcons GM Terry Fontent stating the team will not cut him, the writing is on the wall. Kirk Cousins will hit the market at some point during the NFL offseason in which the Browns should make a move for him. Cousins will come cheap, as well as with experience working with head coach Kevin Stefanski in the past and that’s what makes him so appealing. Cousins is the perfect fit for the Browns, both as a mentor and a bridge for whichever rookie quarterback the Browns take, whether that be at the rumored number 2 pick, or later in the draft.

The Browns have a plethora of roster moves to make, especially if their goal for the 2025 season is to compete and not rebuild, and because of this, I urge them to stay away from Wentz and Jones. Berry and Stefanski may think that the potential to untap something is still there, but we are not in a position to hope the next Sam Darnold comes our way. The smarter option is to grab a guy like Cousins, who has had real success in the league before under Stefanski, and if the front office truly thinks the future of the franchise is there at 2, grab that quarterback and let him learn. The 2025 offseason, and season for that matter, is going to be a wild ride for the Browns fans. That ride officially starts with the beginning of the new league year next week, time to buckle up.