Browns Predicted To Trade Myles Garrett For Picks, Move Down In 2025 NFL Draft, and Sign $180 Million QB

The Cleveland Browns would be a phenomenal football team if they could figure out their quarterback situation. At virtually every other place on the field, they are an excellent team. However, tied down to the infamous Deshaun Watson trade, they have no end in sight.

But according to the latest predictions, a change might be forthcoming. With Watson out for the 2025 season with a ruptured Achilles, Cleveland needs to figure out who their quarterback will be. And there might be one familiar name for head coach Kevin Stefanski to go to.

Cleveland Browns Overhauling The Entire  Roster In Latest Predictions

It’s looking like a long summer ahead for the Browns. Their superstar defensive prospect, drafted No. 1 overall and holding a DPOY award under his belt, already has demanded a trade. And with Myles Garrett leaving, the defense might take a hit, too.

With his adamancy about the trade demand, Seth Walder has a creative solution for the franchise to get out of its troubles. While there is a straightforward path to drafting a quarterback with the franchise’s second overall pick, Walder has a different idea.

“The most straightforward path is to use the No. 2 pick on Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. But an alternative is using this season to reload assets by shipping out Myles Garrett for draft capital, signing [Kirk] Cousins to a cheap contract, and trading down from No. 2 for more picks.”

The move would instantly allow them to build out the rest of the roster with a surplus of draft picks they should theoretically have while allowing Cousins to regain his pre-injury form. And his contract wouldn’t be a problem if he’s cut by the Atlanta Falcons.

Cousins, who could be released by the Falcons even though they said Tuesday that they would be open to him returning as a backup, would be available for close to the veterans minimum, like Russell Wilson was last year if Atlanta moves on.

Cousins’ 2025 earnings will offset the $27.5 million in guaranteed salary coming from the Falcons, so there’s little to no incentive to seek market value compensation from his new team.”

Cousins is coming off of arguably the worst season of his career. Since becoming a full-time starter, it was his career-low in passing yards and touchdowns, as he had a four-week stretch in the middle of the season with 0 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

It ended the Falcons’ playoff aspirations and forced them to promote Michael Penix Jr. as their starter going forward.

However, in Cleveland, Cousins would have a familiar face in Kevin Stefanski as his head coach. The two worked together in Minnesota during his time as the Vikings’ quarterbacks coach. Back then, his involvement was a key reason for Cousins joining the team.

“I was really excited when I signed in free agency that he was going to be my quarterback coach,” a then-30-year-old Cousins said. Perhaps the two can find some connection again.

For all of his shortcomings, Cousins ranked 24th on PFSN’s QB+ metrics. Not great, but not the worst in the league like Deshaun Watson. And for a Browns team that ranked as the worst offense in the league on PFSN’s Offense+ metric, that jump would be meteoric and life-changing.