Todd McShay: Browns not drafting a QB

[MightyGiants]

"I've heard from multiple sources: Cleveland... they're not pulling the trigger on a quarterback. They don't believe that this is the year to do that. That they are not a quarterback in this class away. If it had been last year's class, they feel really good that they can take off and run."

McShay goes on to say that he has also heard from sources that Kirk Cousins is the preferred target at quarterback to come in on the cheap and bridge the gap in Cleveland.

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/todd-mcshay-reveals-bold-information-134027030.html

[T200]

I believe very little of these reports. No one tips their hand... if they're smart.

[DaveBrown74]

I believe very little of these reports. No one tips their hand... if they're smart.

They gave Deshaun Watson a fully guaranteed $250mm over 5 years. So the bold may be up for debate in the Browns' case.

[MightyGiants]

I believe very little of these reports. No one tips their hand... if they're smart.

One look at the trade they made and the contract they gave Watson, and I think the whole "smart" thing flies right out the window 

[T200]

They gave Deshaun Watson a fully guaranteed $250mm over 5 years. So the bold may be up for debate in the Browns' case.

One look at the trade they made and the contract they gave Watson, and I think the whole "smart" thing flies right out the window 

Valid point, hence the caveat.

Is the current GM the same?

[MightyGiants]

Valid point, hence the caveat.

Is the current GM the same?

From what I could find, they still have the same GM

[DaveBrown74]

From what I could find, they still have the same GM

Not only is it the same GM, but they signed him to a contract extension in June of 2024.

Impressive bullshitting skills to convince ownership to keep you after carrying out literally either the worst or second worst trade/signing (only Rodgers is in the conversation) in NFL history.

[MightyGiants]

Not only is it the same GM, but they signed him to a contract extension in June of 2024.

Impressive bullshitting skills to convince ownership to keep you after carrying out literally either the worst or second worst trade/signing (only Rodgers is in the conversation) in NFL history.

Technically, it was more of a cap move that allowed them to move some of his cap hit into the future rather than a true extension

[Hadron]

IF no one is getting blamed for that Watson trade, then who is the mastermind? Oh, probably Jimmy Haslam!

Stefanski is working wonders out there with whatever QB he's trotting out (that isn't named Watson). The rest of the roster isn't awful either.

[MightyGiants]

IF no one is getting blamed for that Watson trade, then who is the mastermind? Oh, probably Jimmy Haslam!

Stefanski is working wonders out there with whatever QB he's trotting out (that isn't named Watson). The rest of the roster isn't awful either.

Stefanski also couldn't seem to find a way to make Baker Mayfield work, even though the Bucs seemed to have no problem on that front.

Who started it?
"It was definitely conceived by football operations," team owner Jimmy Haslam said in the press conference announcing the Watson trade. "I can tell you it was widely vetted throughout our organization, including ownership, but it was conceived in football operations."

I believe this is true.

Berry and the front office were looking for an upgrade over Baker Mayfield. The general manager called it a five-month odyssey.

At the Watson introduction press conference, Berry explained: "First, it starts with the reference work: Understanding and talking to people who knew Deshaun intimately, interacted with him frequently at different phases of his life, whether that's in Gainesville, at Clemson. Then there were multiple people up and down in the Texans organization."

Berry added more details.

"We used independent investigative resources within Harris County in the Houston law enforcement community in order to get an unbiased, well-rounded and comprehensive perspective on the allegations," he said. "We didn't want to just be one-sided. We used third-party legal counsel and allowed her to really analyze all the information we were able to collect."

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2024/11/who-is-ultimately-to-blame-for-the-deshaun-watson-trade-terry-pluto.html

[Philosophers]

Nothing decided yet

[DaveBrown74]

Technically, it was more of a cap move that allowed them to move some of his cap hit into the future rather than a true extension

I'm confused. What does the GM's contract have to do with the cap?

[MightyGiants]

I'm confused. What does the GM's contract have to do with the cap?

Never mind, I thought you were referring to the rework they did on Watson's contract 

[DaveBrown74]

Never mind, I thought you were referring to the rework they did on Watson's contract 

Gotcha. I figured it might be that but I just wanted to double check in case there was some weird rule about GM salaries that I was not aware of.