CLEVELAND — The Browns found a “franchise quarterback,” just maybe not their own. ADVERTISING CLEVELAND — The Browns found a “franchise quarterback,” just maybe not their own. And whoever winds up behind center in Cleveland will be well protected. With
CLEVELAND — The Browns found a “franchise quarterback,” just maybe not their own.
And whoever winds up behind center in Cleveland will be well protected.
With an eye on making another move at quarterback, Cleveland acquired veteran Brock Oswelier and a 2018 second-round pick on Thursday in a stunning trade with the Houston Texans, who were looking for a partner to help them get rid of the QB’s $16 million guaranteed contract.
At first, the unusual trade was met with the usual, Browns-being-Browns skepticism.
However, the deal was made simply to give Cleveland more assets to perhaps trade for another QB such as New England backup Jimmy Garoppolo, and it allows the Texans to clear some salary-cap space to make a run at a starter.
Cleveland, which also signed veteran wide receiver Kenny Britt to a deal, and Houston are also swapping 2017 fourth- and sixth-round picks.
The Browns spent liberally on the first day of the free agency signing period by landing former Cincinnati Bengals right guard Kevin Zeitler (five years, $60 million), Green Bay center J.C. Tretter (three years, $16.75 million) and giving left guard Joel Bitonio a five-year, $51 million extension. Those moves were followed by the swap with Houston, an out-of-the-box maneuver that could position the Browns to finally solve their decades-long quarterback issues.
They have not yet decided what they’ll do with Osweiler, and his arrival does not necessarily affect any decisions on Robert Griffin III, who is due a roster bonus this weekend.
But having Osweiler — and another high draft pick — provides the Browns with more ammunition to finally get their messy quarterback situation cleaned up. It’s possible they’ll try to entice the Patriots to move the 25-year-old Garoppolo, who won two starts last season while filling in when Tom Brady was suspended.
Cleveland has two first-round picks, Nos. 1 and 12, and two second-rounders this year, and three second-round picks in 2018.
With nearly $102 million in salary-cap space to start the day, the Browns were in a position to take on Osweiler’s contract and essentially paid $16 million for another high draft pick.
“We’re really excited to acquire a second-round draft choice in this trade,” said Sashi Brown, Cleveland’s executive vice president of football operations. “Draft picks are extremely important to our approach in building a championship-caliber football team. We are intent on adding competition to every position on our roster and look forward to having Brock come in and compete.”
However, it’s possible the Browns, who now have 11 picks in this year’s draft, will move Osweiler long before he sees a field in Cleveland.
