If the Rams don't re-sign Jimmy Garoppolo, could the QB carousel land him in Cleveland?
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
(Editor's note: This story was posted before the Browns and Myles Garrett agreed to a contract extension for $160 million over four years. It secures Garrett to the Browns through 2030 and contains a no-trade clause.)
Takeaways from the NFL free agency as the shopping begins …
1. The trade of Seattle quarterback Geno Smith to the Raiders (for a third-round draft pick in 2025) is expected to set the veteran quarterback carousel spinning when league-wide negotiations officially begin at noon on Monday.
The Browns are in a group of teams in this market along with the Titans, Giants, Jets, Colts, Seahawks, Steelers, and Vikings. The Falcons will join this group if they release Kirk Cousins rather than commit another $10 million to the $27.5 million they already owe him.
Cousins will be coveted if set free because he’ll cost only the NFL minimum of $1.255 million, due to the guaranteed money owed by the Falcons.
After Cousins, Sam Darnold is expected to be popular among teams willing to anoint him as their starter at the projected price of $100 million+ over three years. Teams who may compete for Darnold are the Titans, Giants and Seahawks. The Vikings seem willing to pass on bringing back Darnold.
Justin Fields has been connected to the Steelers, who have failed so far to re-sign him, and the Jets. Daniel Jones could be re-signed by the Vikings if Darnold bolts. Aaron Rodgers could stay in New York and trade his Jets uniform for the Giants.
As for the Browns, Cousins has been my steady front-runner to rejoin Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland as a bridge quarterback. Carson Wentz also has been linked.
Over the weekend, a league source confirmed that Jimmy Garoppolo is a “legit” possibility, too, though the Rams are intent on re-signing him as Matthew Stafford’s backup.
Other QBs vying for seats on the carousel include Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco, Gardner Minshew, Jacoby Brissett, Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston.
2. In an appearance on SiriusXM/NFL last week, co-host Mark Dominick asked me which three of their own free agents the Browns would like to retain.
I struggled to answer and said, “I can’t think of one.”
Last week the Browns tendered contract offers to two exclusive rights free agents (less than three years NFL experience), assuring their return -- linebacker Winston Reid and tight end Blake Whiteheart.
That leaves the Browns with 25 free agents with expired contracts.
In a previous story on TheLandOnDemand, I listed running back Nick Chubb and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst as players I would bring back. Both players are coming off two years of injuries and may not stir up interest in the marketplace.
As a measure of potential interest in Browns free agents, I checked where they placed on various media lists of this season’s top free agents.
On The Athletic’s top 150:
69. Nick Chubb
71. Elijah Moore
95. Jedrick Wills
118. Jameis Winston
On NFL.com’s Top 101
53. Jameis Winston
79. Elijah Moore
94. Jedrick Wills
101. Nick Chubb
On CBS.com’s Top 100
84. Jedrick Wills
88. Jameis Winston
3. The Myles Garrett standoff may motivate edge rusher-starved teams to fill their need in free agency or the draft, which is loaded with them.
Teams with real needs for an edge rusher include the Eagles, Bills, Commanders, Lions, Packers, Chargers, Seahawks, Falcons, Cardinals, 49ers, Bears, Saints, Panthers, Patriots and Titans. (Geez, just imagine if the Browns came to their senses and announced, “Give us your best offer for Garrett.”)
The top edge rushers in free agency are Josh Sweat (Eagles), Khalil Mack (Chargers), Joey Bosa (Chargers), Malcolm Koonce (Raiders), Chase Young (Saints), Haason Reddick (Jets), DeMarcus Lawrence (Cowboys), Dayo Odeyingbo (Colts), Harold Landry (Titans), Von Miller (Bills), Baron Browning (Cardinals), and Dante Fowler (Commanders).
Like quarterbacks, edge rushers are expected to fall in line quickly in the first week of free agency. Players on the above list are either deemed too expensive by their former teams, coming off injury-plagued seasons, or well beyond their career peak. That's why they're available.