Ex-Jets GM gives bold take on Browns replacing Deshaun Watson with $180,000,000 NFC QB

Former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum believes the Cleveland Browns will replace Deshaun Watson with Kirk Cousins. Cousins signed a four-year $180,000,000 deal with the Atlanta Falcons this past offseason but is expected to be released come March.

Cousins' free-agency will be an interesting one and Tannenbaum thinks the Browns would be wise to sign the veteran QB and predicts it will happen.

"Kirk Cousins will leave the Browns to the AFC North Division title. And to me, this one's really easy, because you reunite with Kevin Stefanski. They need a quarterback. They have a really good defense. And if Kirk Cousins plays beer better, they win the division," Tannenbaum said on First Take.

It is a bold take from Tannenbaum as he not only thinks Cousins will sign with the Browns but he will also lead Cleveland to an AFC North title.

Cousins was benched by the Falcons for rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. which signaled rumors of him being released. However, he still believes he can be a starting quarterback in the NFL.

"It's pro football. There's a standard that I have for myself, that the team has for me," Cousins told reporters, via NFL.com. "Unfortunately, I wasn't playing up to that standard consistently enough. It is what it is. You roll with it.

"Now, you still get ready, one play away kind of a thing, and support Mike and just try to help our team be able to find a way to win these last three to get in the playoffs. That's what it's all about. That's my focus...

"I didn't forget how to play quarterback," Cousins said. "Certainly, the turnovers were not what you want, but I didn't forget how to play."

Cousins went 303-for-453 for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

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Deshaun Watson reworks contract with the Browns

Deshaun Watson reworked his contract with the Cleveland Browns. According to ESPN, the reworked contract adds two void years to the deal, allowing the Browns to push out his dead salary cap into 2030.

Watson has two years remaining on the five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million deal. He is owed $46 million in each of the next two seasons, and he has a cap hit of $72.9 million in 2025 and 2026.

Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending injury in 2024. Before the injury, he threw for 137-for-216 for 1,148 yards, 5 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.