Insider addresses if Browns could target big-name QB after Deshaun Watson's contract restructure

Some assumed shortly after it was learned on Thursday that the Cleveland Browns had once again restructured the contract for Deshaun Watson that they could soon pursue a big-name quarterback in free agency such as Sam Darnold of the Minnesota Vikings.

In his latest The Land on Demand article, Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland shared why the club will instead sign a cheaper option at some point after the new league year opens this coming Wednesday. 

"The Watson move alone moved the Browns to about $12.8M under the (salary) cap," Grossi explained. "(General manager) Andrew Berry will have to do more contract gymnastics, however, to fill some holes with bargain-basement additions in free agency. A conversion of (cornerback) Denzel Ward’s contract is a possibility, along with the release of a veteran or two. 

"The Browns have to reserve $8.64M in cap room for their rookie draft picks. Also, if they ultimately decide to trade (All-Pro pass-rusher) Myles Garrett, they’ll have to create another $36M to accommodate the dead cap charge of the trade. All of these constraints point to a very conservative approach to free agency in Berry’s sixth season as GM."

Unless Darnold and the Vikings come to a short-term agreement for him to remain the club's QB1 through at least the 2025 season, he will become eligible to speak with other teams when the free-agent negotiating window opens this Monday. Analysts and reporters believe he ultimately could receive a three-year deal worth $115M-$125M with anywhere between $55M to $85M in guaranteed money. 

To compare, the Browns could sign Kirk Cousins after his expected divorce from the Atlanta Falcons becomes official to a league-minimum deal because of what the Falcons owe him. On Friday, Zac Jackson of The Athletic repeated others when he linked the Browns with Minnesota Vikings backup Daniel Jones. Jones likely will sign an inexpensive one-year contract that includes some incentives with either Cleveland or a different team.

For what it's worth, the Browns continue to insist they aren't trading Garrett because they hope to field a competitive team in September. That suggests Cleveland would prefer to sign Cousins over Jones considering the 36-year-old has had the better overall career of the two signal-callers. 

With that said, Cousins may try to find a home with a Pittsburgh Steelers team that's coming off a playoff appearance in the event that the Steelers fail to re-sign 2024 first-choice starter Russell Wilson and QB2 Justin Fields.