ClutchPoints
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, the Cleveland Browns have the worst of both worlds at the quarterback spot.
On one hand, they have roughly $76 million on the books at the position according to Spotrac, which is among the highest marks in the NFL. While paying a premium for the most important positions in football is less than ideal but largely acceptable, the Browns find themselves with that money split over just two players, as Jameis Winston is being paid over $2 million via a void-year contract.
Ideal? No, but when you consider that the team’s $72 million man, Deshaun Watson, is unlikely to play a single snap for the Browns this fall, partially because of injury, particularly because he’s a lousy quarterback, the fact that fans are trying desperately to find an out in his contract feels rather justified, even if it’s ultimately depressing all the same.
So what are the Browns to do? Should they exclusively play Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who just turned in one of the worst seasons in NFL history by multiple metrics? Or should they just say yolo and make a move for any veteran they can shoehorn onto their roster, be that a trade for Kirk Cousins or Matthew Stafford or signing someone like Aaron Rodgers, who can’t expect to make Jets money after his Jets play?
No, for better or worse, the Browns find themselves in one of the worst financial situations of any team in NFL history, and as a result, they really only have one option when it comes to the 2025 NFL Draft: they need to select the best quarterback available, Cam Ward, and hope he can play like a $72 million quarterback while that money is on the books.
With the 2025 NFL Draft still roughly two months away, the professional football world is entering into that funny period of time where pundits, scouts, and experts alike start to overthink and push players up and down boards based on narratives over on-field production.
One such theory? The duo of Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter are simply better prospects than Ward and Shedeur Sanders, who are widely considered the top-2 quarterbacks in this year’s class by a fairly high margin.
Now granted, is that true? Are Carter and Hunter certified blue chippers, while Ward and Sanders are just the best players at their positions? Yes, while some Hurricanes fans may argue otherwise, Carter and Hunter are the best players in this year’s class, with Mason Graham from Michigan arguably worthy of a spot above Ward and company, too.
With that being said, the quarterback is the most important position in the NFL, with the player disproportionately impactful on a game’s final score more so than any other position in the NFL. Considering there’s literally an adage in football popularized by John Madden that states, “If you have two quarterbacks, you have none,” why would a team like the Titans...
