The Cleveland Browns got some bad news on Thursday when their starting quarterback Deshaun Watson underwent surgery once more after tearing his right Achilles tendon again.

Recovery time for an Achilles tear is usually six months if you have a desk job and 9-12 months if your employment requires 300-pound men falling on you. In the Week 7 matchup against division foe Cincinnati Bengals Watson suffered a non-contact injury and was subsequently carted off the field. It was identified as an Achilles tear which required surgery and landed him on IR for the remainder of the 2024 season. It was the second straight year his season ended because of injury.

RELATED: DESHAUN WATSON SUFFERS ANOTHER MAJOR INJURY

Watson’s season was a roller coaster at best as the Browns only won one game and lost six with Cleveland ranked last in the NFL with 253.9 yards of offense per game.

As Watson was involved in his rehab process, he suffered a setback in early January. At the time, it was not known what steps would be needed, if any, with the new injury. That prognosis became that another surgery would be required which occurred on January 9.

There are some who believe Watson has played his last game in the league. One thing for certain: his status for the 2025 season is in jeopardy.

It’s one thing for Watson to have had surgery knowing he might be ready for training camp or even as late as the opening game. It’s another to not identify when he will be completely healed and ready to suit up.

This means the Browns need a quarterback for 2025. Correction: a starting quarterback.

On the roster currently are veteran Jameis Winston, second-year man Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and another youngster Bailey Zappe. The Browns may decide to retain Zappe as a developmental prospect, but Winston and DTR are most likely gone.

That still doesn’t give Cleveland a starting quarterback. Could they draft a young guy in this year’s NFL draft who can come in and start Day 1? The franchise owns the #2 overall pick plus the first pick in the second round. A seasoned veteran might be more to the liking.

The unknown is the biggy. Will the Browns look for a guy who will take the reins for the next 10 years (one reporter says they’ve already made a decision about the second overall pick), or seek a bridge signal caller until Watson can return who is set to remain with Cleveland for the next two seasons?

Let’s take a look.

2025 NFL draft

The Tennessee Titans own the first overall pick in this year’s draft. It has been mentioned in more than one spot that the Titans are in love with the University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward. Barring any trade to move down, let’s assume that they select him with the first pick.

The only other QB rated high enough in the first round is Shedeur Sanders of Colorado. Draft sites are mixed on where Sanders fits on their Big Boards. Some have him as high as in the Top-5 while others have him closer to the high 20s. A few draft sites have him listed in the upper portion of the second round while Pro Football Focus has him listed as the #41 prospect.

Round 3 pick #90 (from Bills Amari Cooper trade)

Riley Leonard (6’4”, 216 pounds) – Notre Dame

He has a dual-threat upside that can provide accurate touch passes with the prototypical NFL build. Very athletic and is rarely rattled. Good pocket with a calm demeanor. Excellent runner. Had 396 rushing attempts in three seasons for 2,090 yards and scored 16 rushing TDs. His completion percentage this year was 66.4%. Does not possess the strongest arm in the draft and can be viewed as having heavy feet.

Round 4 pick #109 (Browns own pick)

Kurtis Rourke (6’5”, 223 pounds) – Indiana

Played six college seasons with 48 games played and 44 starts. 69.4 completion percentage his final year with 10,693 career yards, 79 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions. A leader with great football IQ. His ball placement is exceptional. A decent runner with 278 rushing attempts. Needs better blind-side pressure awareness.

Round 6 pick #198 (from Vikings ZDS trade)

Jaxson Dart (6’-2”, 225 pounds) – Ole Miss

The former Gatorade National Football Player of the Year Award winner has great arm strength with added velocity. He is very mobile with 1,541 rushing yards in his college career. A three-year starter with a career completion percentage of 65.2%. Threw for 4,279 yards his senior season with 29 TDs against just six picks. He can throw the ball a country mile just not always on target. He also has an issue with decision-making when pressured.

Dart could see his actual draft spot soar as the NFL draft class is spotty.

Editor’s note: Actual draft numbers from the third round and down will change once the NFL announces compensatory picks

2025 Trade

Kirk Cousins (6’-3”, 205 pounds) – Atlanta Falcons

Age: 36

He has some age but can still play at a high level although he was recovering from an Achilles injury from last season. Was benched this year after 14 games for their first-round draft pick and went 7-7. Threw for 509 yards in the Week 5 win over Tampa Bay. This year has a 66.9 completion percentage with 18 touchdowns and a whooping 16 picks. 159 career starts in the league and a proven leader.

It is possible that Cousins could refuse any trade and then ask the Falcons to release him. That would void his contract and allow him to sign to a team for a much smaller base salary. He had a stretch where he threw just one touchdown against nine interceptions and fumbled repeatedly. His decision-making has been questioned.

Cousins is at this career juncture where a lot of things must go right for his offense to be successful. The Browns offensive line has had major issues along with TE David Njoku’s continued injury problems. This just may not be the answer for Cleveland.

2024 contract: $25 million, first year of a four-year, $180 million deal

Projected 2025 contract: $40 million, balance of contract

2025 Free Agent Class

Sam Darnold (6’-3”, 225 pounds) – Minnesota Vikings

Age: 27

If the Vikings do not extend Darnold, he will be one of the top free agents this off-season. If the Browns want a temporary fix, this is their guy. He was 14-3 this year as the starter with a 66.2% completion ratio. 35 TD passes to just 12 picks. 67 rushes for 212 yards, so mainly on scrambles. He is known as a gunslinger. He quickly distributes the ball to his playmakers on a variety of quick-rhythm throws designed to get the ball out of his hands in a hurry.

His performance in key areas is more mixed, with 31 big-time throws balanced by 21 turnover-worthy plays. Darnold has the ability to execute full-field reads from the formation.

2024 contract: One year, $10 million

Projected 2025 contract: Three years, $123 million

Justin Fields (6’-3”, 227 pounds) – Pittsburgh Steelers

Age: 25

Fields has always had the gift of gaining yardage with his legs. He can be exciting to watch and frustrating to absorb his decision-making. He does struggle to recognize coverages and will make get the ball out quickly. This year in Pittsburgh he did improve and Fields posted a career-best 93.3 passer rating. Fields remains a young signal-caller with a lot of upside.

He is the perfect guy to bring in for a team like Cleveland that isn’t willing to spend big bucks on a fill-in quarterback. This might be a sensible signing. Before he lost his job to Russell Wilson, Fields went 4-2 and had 106 completions on 161 attempts, 1,106 yards, five TDs, one interception, a 65.8 completion percentage plus a 110.6 QB rating. The physical tools are still undeniable.

2024 contract: Conclusion of his four-year rookie deal, $3.2 million

Projected 2025 contract: Three years, $33 million

Jimmy Garoppolo (6’-2”, 225 pounds) – Los Angeles Rams

Age: 33

Played sparingly with the Rams this year which means he is fresh. He’s trying the Sam Darnold approach of spending a year with a good offensive mind in the hopes that someone will pick him up to be a veteran mentor or bridge starter in 2025. He was the highest-paid player in NFL history six years ago at $27.5 million per year.

With the Rams, Garoppolo showed he could run the offense and made some of the Jimmy G mistakes that would be expected. But when called upon, he can still move an offense. Los Angeles invested in the backup quarterback position this offseason and they got a player that can run the offense how it’s designed and still capable of being the starter.

2024 contract: One year, $4.5 million

Projected 2025 contract: Two years, $12 million

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