A look at some names the Browns can consider to boost their QB room.
On Wednesday morning, the Cleveland Browns announced that starting quarterback Deshaun Watson will undergo season-ending surgery on a broken bone in his throwing shoulder sustained during the first half of Sunday's 33-31 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Even though Watson finished the game, the team determined that he would need surgery that will sideline him for the remainder of the 2023 NFL season.
With Watson out, the Browns currently have two healthy quarterbacks on their roster: P.J. Walker and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, with Thompson-Robinson making his debut on Sunday in a divisional matchup against the Steelers.
According to the team's general manager, Andrew Berry, the Browns will eventually add another quarterback to the roster.
Berry said: "The one thing I will share is that we will add a quarterback at some point in the near future; we do believe in carrying three quarterbacks between the active and the practice squad."
With the trade deadline now passed, the Browns will have to look into some free agent options or sign a player off another team's practice squad before making a final decision.
Take a look at the possible QB options for Cleveland after the Deshaun Watson injury:
Philip Rivers
If the 49ers had won the NFC Championship game in January, the team would call Rivers about potentially playing for them in the Super Bowl. The Browns should consider it if a team has tried bringing him back. The downside with Rivers is that he hasn't played in over two years. He also stated that he's happy coaching high school football in Alabama, but his team's season has already ended after a loss in the State of Alabama playoffs. Also, Rivers said in March that if a team ever needs him, he could only play six to eight games. This is also a long shot since Rivers said he's probably "done" after two years.
Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan signed a deal with CBS to become an analyst for the 2023 NFL season. Even though he stated that he's not done playing football, the deal with CBS could tell us the opposite. Ryan is one of the most experienced free agent quarterbacks available. The former MVP made a Super Bowl appearance and has over 62,000 yards under his belt. He last played for the Colts last season and if the Browns want some veteran presence, Ryan should be considered.
Cam Newton
The former NFL MVP still has the desire to play in the NFL. Newton said earlier this year that he would be willing to play for nine teams. In April, he made a list of teams where he'd be willing to start or even be a backup and the Browns made the cut. It's been over a year since Newton appeared in an NFL game. With his playing style, he must show he has some fuel left in the tank to return to the field.
Colt McCoy
McCoy has some ties with Cleveland. He was drafted by the Browns in 2010 and spent three years with the team. McCoy has 36 career starts in the NFL, so it won't be an issue if the Browns need to start him at some point. If not a starter, he would make veteran presence in the locker room and could start if called upon. He's currently a free agent and spent his past two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, where he went 3-3 as a starter.
It’s going to be very hard for them to find a decent QB on this moment of the season