NFL Free Agency Rumors: Browns make decision on Sam Darnold with $10,000,000 contract running out 

"What happened to Deshaun Watson" is a question that has been thrown around quite often this year. The Browns' franchise quarterback appeared a shadow of himself for most of the year and failed to justify the $230 million deal the franchise handed him, all of which is guaranteed money, of course.

In late December, the Browns and Watson agreed to restructure his contract, spreading out the $92 million by adding two void years into his deal, allowing the franchise to push it all the way to 2030, when the salary cap figure will be revised.

That move means the Browns will likely have Watson on the roster in 2025 and maybe a few years beyond, which poses an interesting question for their QB room next year. Will they rely on a soon-to-be 30-year-old QB recovering from an Achilles tear or explore other options?

ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler published a lengthy report on where things went wrong for the Browns but delivered some bad news for those expecting the franchise to target Sam Darnold in free agency.

"One team source said 'any veteran with starter's talent' will be evaluated by the Browns, including current Atlanta Falcons backup Kirk Cousins, should he become available as expected," Fowler wrote.

"The source conceded that Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, considered the top free agent quarterback, could prove too costly, assuming he's even on the market."

Darnold signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Vikings in the offseason to initially serve as rookie J.J. McCarthy's backup but has since been named in the MVP conversation after driving the Vikings all the way to the playoffs.

NFL: New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons - Source: Imagn

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Is Kirk Cousins a realistic 2025 free agency target for the Browns?

Things have clearly not gone to plan for Kirk Cousins, who signed a $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons only to be benched for rookie Michael Penix Jr. late in the season.

Since being demoted, rumors have run rampant that the Falcons will cut Cousins before they have to pay him the roster bonus for 2025, a bonus that will cost the team a cool $10 million on March 17.

If, as expected, Cousins is released, he will likely have a few suitors but whether he will want to sign with the Browns is another question altogether.

Cleveland appears to be a franchise in turmoil. The City of Cleveland is currently trying to force Jimmy Haslam to sell the franchise whereas the QB situation is also a messy one.

They let Joe Flacco go in the offseason despite the veteran QB willing the Browns to the playoffs. Jameis Winston hasn't flashed any potential while Dorian Thompson-Robinson has also disappointed since replacing Winston under center.

Cousins would essentially walk into a pretty complicated situation given the fact that the owners clearly have Watson's back. He has a long road to recovery ahead and while Cousins has recovered from a major injury himself, signing him to compete with Watson would be a risky gamble for a franchise that's already dealing with a $230 million gamble gone wrong.