There comes a day when every NFL team must cut players ahead of a new season and today is that day for the Cleveland Browns. Quarterback Deshaun Watson was the biggest name omitted from the Browns' 53-man roster.
Apart from Watson's omission, there weren't a whole lot of surprises. After all, this is a team returning a good portion of its players from last year and those that were added, like Amari Cooper, were never really in danger of not making the side.
Deshaun Watson's omission is glaring, though not unexpected. He is not on the roster as he will be serving an 11-game suspension as soon as the regular season begins.
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NFL fans took the opportunity, as they often do, to brutally troll the controversial quarterback, sending savage jokes Watson and the team's way.
When Watson is eligible to return, the Browns will have to free up a roster spot for him in some way.
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Are the Cleveland Browns going to add another quarterback?
The Browns seem intent on letting backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett play. However, Brissett is just that: a backup.
The Browns are in a window of contention, with Amari Cooper, Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Grant Delpit, and others in their prime. They probably don't want to waste a year with a backup quarterback.
Eleven games is a long time and by then, most teams know whether or not they're contending. The Cleveland Browns may not want to go that far before finding out if Watson can save them.
If that's the case, then they may need to look at other options, but those options are slim. Jimmy Garoppolo restructured his contract for one more season in San Francisco, but it includes a no-trade clause. He's off the table.
Sam Darnold could have been a target after being replaced by former Brown Baker Mayfield, but he's out for up to six weeks with a sprained ankle.
Even kicking the tires on Drew Lock, who lost the quarterback battle in Seattle, would be worthwhile. Lock was a starter for a while in Denver.
Other than that, free agents Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick represent the last of the viable options, meaning it may genuinely be Brissett under center for 11 weeks in Cleveland.
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