Heading into the 2025 NFL season, the Cleveland Browns have the worst of both worlds at the quarterback spot.
On one hand, they have roughly $76 million on the books at the position according to Spotrac, which is among the highest marks in the NFL. While paying a premium for the most important positions in football is less than ideal but largely acceptable, the Browns find themselves with that money split over just two players, as Jameis Winston is being paid over $2 million via a void-year contract.
Ideal? No, but when you consider that the team’s $72 million man, Deshaun Watson, is unlikely to play a single snap for the Browns this fall, partially because of injury, particularly because he’s a lousy quarterback, the fact that fans are trying desperately to find an out in his contract feels rather justified, even if it’s ultimately depressing all the same.
So what are the Browns to do? Should they exclusively play Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who just turned in one of the worst seasons in NFL history by multiple metrics? Or should they just say yolo and make a move for any veteran they can shoehorn onto their roster, be that a trade for Kirk Cousins or Matthew Stafford or signing someone like Aaron Rodgers, who can’t expect to make Jets money after his Jets play?
No, for better or worse, the Browns find themselves in one of the worst financial situations of any team in NFL history, and as a result, they really only have one option when it comes to the 2025 NFL Draft: they need to select the best quarterback available, Cam Ward, and hope he can play like a $72 million quarterback while that money is on the books.
