The Deshaun Watson decision sounds like it could come at any minute, and the length of his potential suspension could go a long way in determining the Browns’ short-term plan at quarterback.
Cleveland currently has Jacoby Brissett in line to step in if Watson is suspended, but if Watson misses a substantial chunk of the season the Browns might prefer to seek an upgrade.
That has fueled chatter that perhaps Jimmy Garoppolo could be a fit with the Browns. The 49ers seem ready to move Garoppolo and have Trey Lance take over at quarterback, but offseason surgery effectively stopped any potential Garoppolo trade talks.
Asked on “Afternoon Drive On The Fan” for his thoughts on Garoppolo potentially going to the Browns, NFL insider Ian Rapoport was skeptical.
“If Deshaun Watson gets a full year, I guess anything is possible, I haven’t felt a ton of momentum about Jimmy Garoppolo and the Browns,” Rapoport said. “They tried to trade for him before, a completely different regime now, but if they were going to go in that direction, it doesn’t seem like they’ve started that process yet. I would say if they were going to I would think I would've felt it, but you never know, things have been kept under wraps before.
“It’s pretty clear Garoppolo is going to be the top starter, whatever he ends up being, available. He also has a $20 million salary, and it’s one year so it all hits you (at once). So if you’re the Browns and you’re paying Deshaun Watson $46 million this year, and then you’re going to trade, give up assets and pay Jimmy Garoppolo 20 million -- $66 million is a lot invested in the quarterback, plus whatever Jacoby Brissett is making. So I guess anything is possible, but they would have to get started on that pretty quickly in order for that to be a reality.”
There’s also no guarantee that the 49ers won’t price gouge the Browns. Although San Francisco isn’t operating with a ton of leverage since there are no clear suitors for Garoppolo, the Niners don’t have to just hand him over to the Browns because Cleveland is desperate.
Plenty is up in the air. None of it is likely to be determined until a decision is made on Watson.
