CBS Sports: The Browns have considered replacing Deshaun Watson with a former four-time MVP quarterback.
The Cleveland Browns‘ alternatives to replacing Deshaun Watson look to be rising by the day.
First, just over a year and a half ago, the New York Giants signed a $160 million agreement with quarterback Daniel Jones, who was then released on Friday, November 22.
Then, on Saturday, Dianna Russini of The Athletic revealed that Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback for the New York Jets, had no intention of rejoining the team in 2025. Before the season ends, he might actually be available as a free agent.
I’ve been informed that no decisions have been made yet, but it seems more probable than not that the four-time MVP, who is injured, will be benched or placed on injured reserve during the coming weeks, which would put an end to his terrible tenure with the Jets. Some leaguers think they won’t be shocked if Rodgers is cut during the season.
It’s no secret in the building or locker room that Rodgers and the owner have had a tense relationship for months. My impression at this time, based on discussions with league and team sources, is that Rodgers still intends to play in 2025, but not with the New York Jets.
Over his two years with the Jets, Aaron Rodgers’ value has decreased, making him more affordable for teams like the Browns.
After Week 4, owner Woody Johnson wanted the team to bench quarterback Aaron Rodgers in favor of backup Tyrod Taylor. With a 3-8 record, the team’s season is now all but ended before Thanksgiving.
After tearing his Achilles tendon in the first game of the season, Rodgers missed all but one drive the year before, making 2023 a complete bust in New York.
As a result, the Jets have struggled in their two seasons with Rodgers, who has one year left on his deal and will turn 41 early next month. Although it is unlikely that any team will part with a valuable draft asset to get Rodgers, the team may decide to stick onto him and try to trade him. Instead, it may wait for New York to release him and begin bidding there.
Aaron Rodgers and the Browns can work together to move past recent embarrassing episodes in their respective histories.
The Watson experiment in Cleveland has been worse than the Rodgers experiment in New York, despite the fact that the latter failed.
In 11 Jets games this season, Rodgers has still passed for almost 2,400 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions on 63.4% throwing. When the Browns quarterback has been on the field over the last three years—which has been infrequently due to an NFL ban and back-to-back season-ending injuries—he has been significantly superior to Watson. Furthermore, in 2025, Rodgers will be significantly less expensive than Watson.
The Browns are unable to break Watson’s contract, which includes salary cap hits of $73 million in each of the following two seasons. However, Cleveland would have the best Watson substitute since they traded for him in March 2022 if they signed Rodgers for between $5 and $10 million for the season.
