Between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson, the Cleveland Browns have quite an interesting quarterback situation. That alone should make the Browns one of the most fascinating teams to watch next season.
Will Watson finally prove his worth? Will Sanders show up his draft class and actually break out as a franchise quarterback? Those questions will be answered.
Now, the Browns are getting a little more reason to hope that next season will be filled with more ups than downs. In a piece published on Monday, Mike Jones of The Athletic names the Browns as one of the teams that greatly improved during the offseason.
Browns get high praise as they gear up for a Shedeur Sanders-Deshaun Watson competition
In the piece, Jones praises the Browns for a bevy of moves, including the Myles Garrett trade to the Los Angeles Rams.
On the downside, Jones says that the team “had to settle for a backup option (Todd Monken) as coach, and they remain handcuffed to quarterback Deshaun Watson and his awful contract.”
But on the upside, “the Browns did get a lot done this offseason, and those efforts give the franchise a chance to take a step forward over the next couple of offseasons.”
He notes that even though the Browns hated trading Garrett, “they did receive salary-cap relief, a talented pass rusher in Jared Verse and additional building blocks in the form of draft picks. That move, coupled with a much-needed offensive line overhaul and a promising draft, should land the Browns in a better place.”
He also says that it’s possible Monken could “help revive Watson’s career or position Shedeur Sanders for growth.”
So, the Browns made some painful decisions during the offseason. But in general, they were the right moves, and that sets the Browns up for the future.