Browns at a Crossroads: Navigating the Quarterback Dilemma and Myles Garrett’s Trade Drama
The focus should be in getting and keeping players who help now and buy this regime more time.
The Browns are in an interesting quandary. They’re coming off a 3-14 season with Deshaun Watson who they’re heavily invested in, while playing in seven games last season and also re-injuring a significant Achilles injury.
While reportedly the intention is for Watson to return to Cleveland on the terms of a restructured contract, the timing of Watson’s availability remains nebulous and thus places more pressure on Browns brass at the position.
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The quarterback conundrum…
So what’s the better approach for Cleveland?
Go after a veteran quarterback in free agency or trade market which theoretically helps the organization much quicker, or lean into the hope of a new young prospect who may take longer to contribute consistently?
After being at the NFL Scouting Combine this past week in Indianapolis, the sense I get is the Browns would rather target both solutions, rather than pick one.
The sentiment is that a vet quarterback could help stabilize them, but one view point I heard was that the pursuit of an impactful young quarterback (keyword; impactful) could simultaneously come in this year’s draft, or even next.
However, another viewpoint illuminated the aforementioned point: regardless of whether you draft a young passer this year—there’s still no guarantee they’ll flourish in their first season anyway—thus, the timing of “both” approaches is still another consideration.
When, what, how?
The question is: How much time does this regime have to wait?
While the Browns have been to the playoffs twice in the five-year tenure of general manager Andrew Brown and head coach Kevin Stefanski—with the latter being named Coach of the Year twice in 2020 and 2023, pressure is still ever clear and present on all decision-makers in the building.
The ongoing weight of dreams deferred, piercing disappointment and critical headlines are increasingly burdensome, but not insurmountable.
So the amount of patience from ownership is key.
Because I was told by one confidant that the last thing they feel the club should be doing is transferring said pressure to a young quarterback.
They added, some young QBs flourish early and some do not—and that’s okay. I personally feel this pressure on blue-chip college quarterbacks really took off after the 2012 season when Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck were both drafted and had groundbreaking rookie seasons. Suddenly, no one had patience like they did for Aaron Rodgers waiting his turn behind Brett Favre.
What to do with the Myles Garrett situation?
Then there’s the other pressure point in the building: Myles Garrett. The six-time Pro Bowler and 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year has requested a trade. Berry has said they have no plans to acquiesce.
Berry’s response begs the question: Is it better to keep elite talent who is apparently disgruntled and may have the energy of his situation impact others in the building, or is it better to remove the frequency of a player who says they no longer wants to be in your building?
One sentiment I heard this week was that —at the end of the day Garrett is a baller. This source added, any decisions pertaining to Garrett should be a football decision in their opinion—adding they can’t be overly concerned with locker room dynamics. Meaning, this confidant feels you can’t just trade great talent, just because they’re unhappy. I actually respectfully disagree.
The impact of keeping Garrett
As I’ve said many times in articles and on social media, locker room chemistry is fundamental and necessary. Teams like the Chiefs, Ravens, and Eagles not only have a lasting culture, but also have a great blend of personalities. I can walk in a locker room around the country and quickly ascertain whether the vibes with the guys are on or off. Having a bonded locker room is the difference between going deep in the playoffs, and experiencing an early ouster.
So yes, this is why one must consider how one player’s strong desire to leave may interrupt the fabric of the entire club. It can’t be just “a football decision” in my opinion, because the residual emotion alone may become pathogenic and spread like a cancer—especially in the midst of adversity—which right now is more probable than not.
And moving on…
The other viewpoint from these same conversations was that—while each of these situations should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, sometimes you also have to be flexible enough to potentially move on with additional time to consider the situation.
Besides, I don’t feel trying to keep Garrett is in line with how the club handled Baker Mayfield. In 2022, the Browns traded Mayfield to Carolina in July as the dawning of a new era when Deshaun Watson was emerging. In this situation, in my opinion the Browns did shy away from the “football decision” by shying away from the discomfort of having a despondent Mayfield in the building and shipping him to the Panthers in the preseason no less—before waiting for more potential leverage to build via an opponent’s injury at that position, or via Mayfield providing more security and depth at the position over time. In hindsight, the latter appears like it would’ve been wiser now given how Mayfield has played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
So in Mayfield’s case, in my opinion, the club did the opposite of making the best “football decision”, however, I certainly understand this sentiment as it pertains to Garrett now.
So, the way forward for Cleveland out of this quandary, is directly related to how they answer their two biggest issues on hand: The quarterback situation, and Myles Garrett.
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So what’s the answer?
My two cents?
Focus on a quarterback who can decisively help more now—because this buys more time you might not even get to make another decision—in the same way that hanging on to your best players does too, while of course expecting or imploring them to remain professional and present—like any other employee in the country.
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