Browns Must Look at Adding a $128million Quarterback To Replace P.J. Walker
At the trade deadline, the Cleveland Browns had goals, but most of them were not met.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Cleveland was considering signing an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Another running back was something the team was looking for, according to FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer. Former starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett was offered by the Browns to the Commanders in exchange for a sixth-round pick, but Washington rejected them. Ultimately, the only real move made by the Browns was to trade wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones to the Detroit Lions in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick.
A comparatively empty free agency market is currently Cleveland’s only avenue for meeting its needs. On Tuesday, October 31, the Browns addressed one worry by adding running back Kenyan Drake to the practice squad, although in a lackluster way.
Along with adding free-agent quarterback Carson Wentz to the squad, the team should seriously explore using some of its $35.5 million in available salary cap space. This will allow them to combine a championship-caliber defense with a passing offense that can actually help them win.
Carson Wentz Better QB than Current Reputation Suggests
Although Wentz has recently been used as a scapegoat, his play is better than its image.
Wentz was cut by the Indianapolis Colts in 2021 after a 9-8 season. Though ultimately falling short, the squad was one victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 18 away from a postseason berth.
Wentz became a regular starter for the Commanders past season, going 2–5. During that run, Washington’s head coach Ron Rivera openly attributed the success of the quarterback position to the success of the other teams in the NFC East Division, which included the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and New York Giants, all of which made it to the postseason in 2022.
Wentz found himself a free agent this offseason after agreeing to a four-year, $128 million agreement with the Eagles in 2019—just two years after placing third in the MVP voting during a 2017 season in which Philadelphia won the Super Bowl. He is still a free agent and adds real value to a squad whose attack is designed to win right away.
As an NFL starter, Wentz is 46-45-1 with a 151-t0-66 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Carson Wentz Gives Browns Better Chance to Win than P.J. Walker
Deshaun Watson has only started four of the seven games this season, and he departed one after only five touchdown passes. This raises serious concerns about his shoulder.
P.J. Walker is still the team’s number-two quarterback, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski, who stated as much at a news conference on Wednesday. Should Watson be sidelined this weekend against the Arizona Cardinals, Walker will start in Watson’s place.
Walker has led the offense for the vast majority of the snaps in each of those three games as the Browns have fought their way to a 2-1 record. However, he gave up a late interception that cost the team a victory last week against the Seattle Seahawks, and there are still legitimate concerns about whether Cleveland can compete with Walker—or a rusty, subpar Watson, for that matter—running the offense.
Over the past three weeks, Cleveland’s run game has been strong because to the backfield tandem of Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt. Additionally, the Browns’ defense is strong enough that they can probably get away with holding onto Walker for an extra week when they play the 1-7 Cardinals on Sunday in Cleveland. But starting in Week 10, when the team plays back-to-back key division games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, things get a lot harder.
As the season enters its second half, the Browns will be, at most, 5-3. With Walker at the helm, it’s hard to see Cleveland getting through the aforementioned two-game stretch unscathed, and a few losses there may mean the difference between an early vacation and the postseason in the extremely competitive AFC.
Carson Wentz Offers Browns High Upside
Although Wentz has a tendency to commit turnovers, he is not expected to do it more frequently than Walker, who has committed six in three games. Wentz can also do more when surrounded by a strong offensive group of players.
Wentz was listed as one of the four choices that the Minnesota Vikings could look at on Monday by Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus, following Kirk Cousins’ season-ending Achilles tear. The reasoning behind Speilberger’s suggestion to move Wentz to Minnesota is comparable to the reasons the quarterback makes sense in Cleveland.
Spielberger stated, “Wentz struggled last season in Washington, recording a 24.8% pressure-to-sack rate and earning a 58.9 grade with more turnover-worthy plays than big-time throws.” But the Vikings’ pass-catching group and offensive line have the ability to improve the performance of a gifted quarterback who can produce big plays at any time. There is a chance for atonement here if Wentz can control his errors and take advantage of what might be the best NFL opportunity to come his way again.
Though perhaps better in the middle, the Browns’ offensive line is not as strong at tackle as the Vikings’ is. Although Cleveland’s tight end and wide receiver corps aren’t quite as talented as Minnesota’s, they are still a strong bunch on the field.
Cleveland will only have to pay a pro-rated portion of Wentz’s salary, which is probably going to be far lower than it was under his previous contract, and is not required to sign him past the 2023 season.
Walker can start against the Cardinals if the Browns insert Wentz immediately. Wentz ought to be prepared to play in Week 1o against the Ravens in Baltimore by then.
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