Teddy Bridgewater has always been a favorite of Kevin Stefanski. He could fill a role as a mentor to both Kenny Pickett and a rookie draft pick. (USA Today)
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
The Browns Veteran Quarterback Tracker has been thrown asunder by three developments.
One was the out-of-left field trade by the Browns for Eagles (nee Steelers) quarterback Kenny Pickett. Nobody saw it coming, and in a week’s time the perspective of the deal has changed.
The initial reaction of Pickett’s acquisition was that he was an upgrade over Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who was shipped to Philadelphia as part of the deal, as a QB3 on the depth chart.
But when you consider the Browns also gave up a fifth-round pick for Pickett, it’s apparent that Pickett’s role will be greater than a camp arm vying for the QB3 spot. In fact, Pickett said he was told he would be given “a chance to compete to be the starter.”
“I do view myself as a starter,” said Pickett, 26, who was the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 draft by the Steelers before he was traded to the Eagles last spring. “I’m sure they’re going to bring in another veteran and who knows what else, but I’m just excited to be here and compete with whoever.”
The other development rocking the Quarterback Tracker was a free agent visit by Russell Wilson on the same day Pickett arrived at the Browns’ facility for the first time.
Wilson left without a contract and visited the New York Giants the next day.
Wilson was an attractive candidate last season because he came at the bargain-basement price of the NFL minimum salary as a result of Denver cutting him and eating a guaranteed $39 million in salary. The Steelers nabbed Wilson on the cheap.
But after going 6-5 in 11 starts and losing to Baltimore in a wild card game, the Steelers wanted to move on. They’re longing for Aaron Rodgers, who is waiting for the Vikings to turn over their Super Bowl-ready team to him. And Wilson is back on the market at the age of 36.
As a free agent this year, Wilson reportedly is looking for a $30 million+ salary. That puts his marketability in a completely different place than when he cost the Steelers $1.2 million.
The third development affecting the Browns Quarterback Tracker was the Falcons declining to release Kirk Cousins and make him the Wilson-like bargain pickup of this year’s veteran market.
The Falcons reserved the option to trade Cousins at a later date. But trading a mid-round pick for Cousins and inheriting his $27.5 million salary and $40 million salary cap number seems untenable for the cap-strapped Browns.
So Cousins has been knocked off the top of this list.
Through 1 ½ weeks of free agency, 20 free agent QBs have been taken off the market. Fourteen have signed with new teams and six re-signed with their former teams.
Our third Browns Veteran Quarterback Tracker is drastically revamped because of the dwindling number of candidates and also the fact that Pickett is considered a potential starter by the Browns and the next veteran could be a QB1 or a QB3.
Our list is down to six candidates, alphabetically:
Teddy Bridgewater, Joe Flacco, Joe Milton (trade), Carson Wentz, Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston.
1. Teddy Bridgewater (32): 34 points.
He retired in 2023 to coach high school football, and then unretired last year to join the Lions as an emergency QB in Detroit’s playoff run. Bridgewater has always been held in high esteem by Kevin Stefanski, and anyone else he has touched on his NFL journey. He would fit as a valuable QB3 to mentor the drafted rookie and Pickett.
2. Joe Flacco (40): 30 points.
Somebody in Browns HQ doesn’t like Flacco. Otherwise, he should have been signed on Day 1 of free agency. Conceivably, he could fill the same role as Bridgewater, though he is the best passer of the football on this list and probably would beat out Pickett in a starter competition.
3. Carson Wentz (32): 20 points.
He reportedly was on the Browns’ radar from the start. He would be a more logical candidate for the QB3 role/mentor role more than as a starter.
4. Joe Milton (25): 9 points.
It’s a stretch to call Milton a veteran; he’s entering only his second NFL season and appeared in only one game as rookie with the Patriots. New England is willing to trade Milton for a draft asset after signing Josh Dobbs as their de facto QB2 behind franchise QB Drake Maye. Milton wouldn’t fall into the QB3 role; he would be a developmental prospect with a high ceiling. The Browns used one of their “30 visits” in 2024 on Milton. The price tag of a prospective conditional third-round pick would be easier to stomach if it could be charged to the 2026 draft.
5. Russell Wilson (36): 6 points.
I don’t see it at all. But he’s on this list because they did host a visit with him.
6. Jameis Winston (31): 1 point.
Winston retains a spot on this list despite visiting with the Giants this week. It is interesting the Browns’ football operations leaders – GM Andrew Berry and Stefanski – have never spoken his name since the 2024 season ended. The only scenario I see of a Winston return is if he gets no offers and the Browns wait it out and add him after the draft. Doubtful, though.