Do Browns see Vikings QB as Kirk Cousins fallback amid Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders rumors?

Cleveland Browns insiders continue to predict that the club will sign Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency before the Browns acquire either Miami's Cam Ward or Colorado's Shedeur Sanders on the opening night of the 2025 NFL Draft. 

However, Browns reporter Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand suggested in an article published on Wednesday night that the club views current Minnesota Vikings backup Daniel Jones as a fallback option if Cleveland can't sign Cousins for whatever reason. 

"Jones finished the 2024 season on Minnesota’s active roster and appears ready to embark on a fresh start," Grossi wrote. Grossi also mentioned how the Vikings wanting to run it back with Sam Darnold and 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy on the roster could result in Jones joining the Browns as soon as when the new league year opens on March 12. 

Jones has never been the same player since he enjoyed a phenomenal outing in the New York Giants' wild-card playoff win at the Vikings in January 2023. Following that performance, he suffered the second worrisome neck injury of his pro career, went down with a torn ACL in November 2023 and played poorly this past fall before he and the Giants parted ways in November 2024. 

While Jones may not be Cleveland's first choice in free agency, Grossi pointed out that there is an "increased belief" among some within the NFL "that the Falcons might not make" Cousins available in March. Cousins lost the Atlanta starting job to 2024 first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr. this past December, but Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot has publicly insisted on multiple occasions this offseason that he could hold onto Cousins as Penix's primary backup. 

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was Cousins' quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator when the two were previously with Minnesota.

"If they let him go," Grossi added, "Atlanta remains on the hook for $27.5M and Cousins could sign with a new team for the NFL minimum of $1.255M."

Grossi noted that the Browns' latest restructuring of the contract for Deshaun Watson won't change the fact that the club will be looking to sign a quarterback to a team-friendly contract. If the Falcons retain Cousins' rights through March 12, Browns general manager Andrew Berry may feel he has to pivot to a different cheaper option such as Jones.